"Simple. Yeah. Right," Marco scowled. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who had to watch three of the most important people in your life walk out on it." Marco was tempted to turn and leave, to just give Ace the space the kid said he wanted, but he couldn't. Because it was Ace. Because in all the many times Ace had blown his cork at Marco, the world, Pops, everything someone in the crew tried to be by his side. Because Jozu and Vista weren't there to stop Marco from still trying to get through to the kid.

"It's Luffy's birthday, right?" Marco asked calmly. He still wasn't sure this Ace gave a damn. If he didn't... then Marco would need to get space for himself because an Ace who didn't care about Luffy was an Ace Marco wasn't sure he could like so much.