THE NEXT DAY…
Noah slowly opened his eyes.
"…Why can't I breathe?" He muttered.
Noah eyes twitched.
"…Nyx."
She mumbled in her sleep. "…Five more minutes…"
"Your foot is on my face." Noah said.
"…Then move your face," she replied half-asleep.
Noah stared at the ceiling.
"…Unbelievable."
He grabbed her ankle and lifted it off his face.
Nyx rolled over and immediately fell off the bed.
THUD.
"…Ow," Nyx said from the floor.
Noah sat up and looked down at her. "You good?"
Nyx stayed face down for a second.
"…I meant to do that."
"Of course you did." Noah replied.
She slowly pushed herself up, hair messy, eyes half closed.
"You attacked me in my sleep," she said.
"I attacked you?" Noah replied. "Your foot was on my face."
Nyx blinked. "…So."
She climbed back onto the bed like nothing had happened and stretched.
"Good morning, Captain."
Noah sighed. "You almost suffocated me."
Nyx shrugged. "You survived. It builds character."
"I don't need that kind of character development." noah replied.
Nyx smirked. "Too late."
Noah shake his head and got out of bed.
"You sleep like a wild animal."
Nyx yawned. "Says the guy who didn't notice until morning."
"Do you always have to say something."
"Yes," Nyx replied.
Noah glanced at her. "…Next time I'm sleeping on the floor."
Nyx smiled. "No you're not."
"…Why not?"
"Because I'll follow you."
Noah paused.
"…That sounded like a threat."
"It was," Nyx replied.
Noah sighed, rubbing his face. "I need food."
Nyx immediately stood up. "Now that's something we both can agree on."
They both headed for the door.Noah stopped and looked back at the bed.
"…You drool too."
Nyx froze.
"…I do not."
"There's evidence." Noah said, pointing at the bed.
Nyx turned slowly. "…Destroy it."
Noah smirked. "Too late. I've seen everything."
Nyx points at him. "This is why I step on your face."
"…We're not done with this conversation," Noah said as he walked out.
Nyx followed, grinning.
"Oh, we're definitely not."
"Remember when we first met and you tried to kill me?" Noah said as they walked. "Now you're… nice. And funny. I wonder which one is the real you."
Nyx looked at him for a moment.
"I can be both," she replied.
"That's not comforting," Noah said.
Nyx smirked. "You're still alive, aren't you?"
"Barely," he said.
She stepped a little closer. "If I really wanted you dead… you wouldn't be here."
Noah raised a brow. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"It should," Nyx said.
Noah looked ahead, then back at her. "So which version do I get today?"
Nyx smiled. "Depends."
"On what?"
"How annoying you are."
Noah sighed. "So I'm in danger every day."
"Exactly," Nyx replied.
Noah chuckled. "You're crazy."
"And you let me join your crew," she said.
"…Yeah," Noah replied. "That might've been my first mistake."
Nyx squeezed his hand slightly. "Too late to regret it now."
Noah glanced down at their hands, then looked away. "…Yeah."
Airi met them in the hallway.
"You two should get freshened up before leaving," Airi said.
"No need for that," Noah replied. "I'm good."
Airi tilted her head. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Noah said. "By the way, we'll be coming back tomorrow. If anything happens while we're away, you know where to find us."
Airi nods. "Okay. Be careful."
"We will," Noah replied.
"Probably," Nyx said.
Airi frowned. "…That doesn't sound reassuring."
"It's fine," Nyx replied.
Noah shake his head. "Let's go, Nyx."
Nyx grabbed his hand.
Blip ⚡️
They vanished.
BACK ON THE SCARLETT…
Noah and Nyx appeared on the deck of the Scarlett in a flicker of light.
"Where's everyone?" Noah asked, scanning the empty deck.
"How would I know?" Nyx shrugged.
Suddenly the cabin door burst open.
"Noah!" Amy shouts, running towards him. She threw her arms around him without hesitation.
"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling back just enough to look at his face.
"Yeah," Noah replied softly.
"I'm here too," Nyx muttered, crossing her arms.
Amy laughed. "I know."
Noah glanced around. "Where's Emma and Alice?"
Almost on cue, the two stepped out onto the deck.
"So," Emma said, folding her arms, "how was your little trip to Airi's house?"
"Fun," Noah replied with a faint smile.
"Did you find anything?" Alice asked.
Noah nods.
"We found something very… very interesting," Nyx said.
Emma turned toward the cabin. "Let's head inside. You can explain everything there."
"I'll make tea and sweets," Amy said, already heading ahead.
The group moved into the lounge.
"Sometimes I forget that this ship even has a lounge," Alice said, looking around.
"That's because we're always in the kitchen," Emma replied.
They all took their seats. A few minutes later, Amy returned, setting a tray of tea and sweets on the table before sitting down.
"So," Amy said, "what did you find out?"
Nyx picked up a small cake. "Well… we learned that Airi is a descendant of one of the island's founders." She took a bite. "And her cousin is skilled with a bow."
Noah groaned. "Nyx… focus."
"They asked for details," she said calmly, sipping her tea.
Alice leaned forward. "So does this mean we don't have to fight anyone?"
"I never said that," Nyx replied. "But we could just bring Airi and her cousin with us to avoid any unnecessary fighting."
"We're not letting random people join the crew," Emma said firmly.
"Why not? I joined," Nyx replied.
Emma raised a brow. "You didn't exactly give Noah a choice. And besides...we know how strong you are. Letting you join made sense. But Airi and her cousin? Not yet."
Nyx turned to Noah. "You're the captain. What do you think?"
Noah scratched the back of his head. "Emma's right. As much as I like Airi… her cousin seems a little bit too suspicious."
Nyx nodded slowly. "He was. But we were strangers to him also."
"We're getting off track," Alice said.
Nyx set her cup down.
"Her cousin's name is Kiru. And he said he has a tool… one that was used in the creation of one of the Four Ancient Weapons."
Amy and Alice froze.
"The Four Ancient Weapons?" they said at the same time.
Emma looked at Nyx confused.
"They're weapons of mass destruction passed down from the Void Era," Nyx explained. "It's said a single one can erase an island in seconds."
Amy's grip tightened around her cup. "Something like that… really exists?"
"They do," Nyx replied. "I was there when the first one was created."
Silence filled the room.
Noah sighed, glancing at her. "Sometimes I forget how old you really are."
Amy, Alice, and Emma exchanged uneasy looks.
Noah stood up slowly.
"But it doesn't matter if you're eight hundred… or even a thousand years old, you're still a part of my crew."
Nyx looked up at him and smile.
Noah stretched his arms.
"Listen up. I'm going to tell you guys what happened to me… after Sabaody."
Emma leaned forward. "So you're finally going to tell us how you survived?"
"And how you got so strong?" Amy added.
"I've only been with you guys for about month or so...but… I want to know too." Alice said.
"I've been here less than a month," Nyx said, "and I definitely want to know."
Noah walked over to the aquarium, placing his hand gently against the glass.
"About two and a half years ago… when we fought Kizaru…"
Alice blinked. "You lost?"
Noah nods. "Yeah. He was too strong. Even with everything I had… it wasn't enough."
Emma looked down. "I don't want to remember that day…"
Amy's eyes filled with tears. "I was so weak back then… even now…"
Noah walked over and gently patted her head. "You're stronger now."
Nyx leaned forward, eyes sharp with curiosity. "What happened next?"
Noah paused.
[Noah's Thoughts]
Some things… are better left unsaid.
He exhaled.
"My Angel Fruit… acted on its own."
They all looked at him.
"It sent me… eight hundred years into the past."
Emma got up quickly."Whaaaaat?!"
"Eight hundred…" Amy whispered.
"That's insane," Alice said, then glanced at Nyx. "Actually… maybe not."
Nyx's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Noah sat back down, crossing his legs.
"Have any of you ever heard of a man called… Joyboy?"
Nyx slowly raised her hand.
"I have."
The room shifted to Nyx.
Amy looked at Noahand Nyx, confused. "Who… is Joyboy?"
Nyx leaned forward.
"He was the first pirate."
Noah yarns.
" He's the one who trained me."