Chapter Text
Summer was here, it came once again like it always did every year.
Zoro didn’t like summer. He didn’t hate it, per say, but he didn’t have any kind of fondness for the season. It was like it never existed in the first place. The summertime vibrancy no longer existed, the world dulling around him, years passed and eventually he gave up on summer, it was a curse. To be yearning for those 60 days of euphoria.
Eventually he forgot all that was, or…tried to forget. It’d been 25 years and he was still caught up in nostalgia. He was still caught up in 1992, he needed to get over himself. He was a pathetic old man, not a seventeen year old hung up on…a guy. A guy who shouldn’t have mattered anymore to begin with.
He was the greatest goddamn swordsman the whole sea had ever seen. His name was known across almost every place, every island, everyone knew of him. He’d surpassed many of the most skilled swordsmen at the early age of 28, he was 42 now, travelling from island to island. With his title, he was hated by some, liked by many, but loved by no one. He preferred it that way. He wasn’t willing to waste his life by settling down with anyone, there wasn’t anyone out there for him and he knew.
He’d already missed his chance all those years ago.
If he’d just fought a little harder, maybe if he pleaded a bit more—just maybe…he could’ve been selfish for once.
He could’ve held onto that feeling for a while longer. But he was weak at the time. Even now, even at this old age, he didn’t have the courage even if he was given the chance to do it all again. No matter how strong he may seem, no matter how feared the Roronoa Zoro was, he was weak in a way not even his physical strength could outweigh.
He traveled the vast lands of the sea, he himself wasn’t even sure what he was looking for. A part of himself was still waiting…foolishly. Deep down in his heart, he was still waiting for the day he could meet him again. Give it another try. Even if it didn’t go the way he wanted it to. Even if he was passed off as a stranger, he’d be okay with that. He just wanted to know if he was okay at least. Following his dreams just as Zoro did. So at least he’d be able to accept the fact he wasn’t as important to him as he’d thought.
But those feelings he’d felt all those years ago, he held them somewhere deep in his heart, he cherished every moment back then, every feeling he’d been able to feel, that beautiful experience. Love. He wouldn’t feel like this forever. This was just a phase. But that was a silly excuse he told himself once a year.
Eventually this would all blow over and winter would come around, but for now?
Summer has returned.