It was barely dawn when Tomioka opened his eyes.
The rocking of the bed beneath him no longer made it difficult to sleep; instead, it had become a familiar rhythm. He got up nimbly, pushed open the cabin door, and walked onto the deck.
The sea breeze hit his face, the sky was a faint blue, and the vast ocean stretched to the horizon. The Going Merry cut through the small waves, making a regular swishing sound.
Nami was already sitting at the dining table, several sea charts, which she had obtained from Whiskey Peak, spread across her lap. Her brow was slightly furrowed, indicating deep concentration.
Watching the focused Nami, Tomioka couldn't help but feel that for a ship to sail smoothly, it definitely couldn't do without a navigator who was constantly learning.
"Morning," Tomioka said simply as he walked by.
Nami looked up, and seeing it was him, a bright smile appeared on her face: "Good morning, Tomioka!"
Just then, Sanji emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray. He elegantly placed a delicate breakfast and hot tea beside Nami: "Miss Nami ~ please enjoy your delicious breakfast ~"
Then he looked at Tomioka and handed him a bento box full of rice and grilled fish: "Here, Mr. Tomioka."
"Thank you," Tomioka accepted it, expressing his gratitude sincerely.
Sanji lit a cigarette and casually asked, "How does it taste?"
Tomioka picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of fish, chewed the food in his mouth carefully, then swallowed, and nodded slightly, looking at Sanji: "Delicious."
Sanji seemed very pleased to hear that and asked again, "Is there anything else you'd like to eat? I can make it later."
Tomioka thought for a moment and replied, "Hmm… Radish stewed salmon, perhaps."
"Salmon, huh? I'll keep an eye out in the next town, that's simple!" Sanji made an OK gesture, then turned and went back to the kitchen to continue preparing breakfast for the others.
After breakfast, Tomioka pushed open the door and came to the deck.
Zoro was already there, grunting as he lifted a huge barbell with both hands, his muscles engorged with blood, and sweat dripping down his skin.
Tomioka didn't speak, finding an empty spot not far from him and standing still. He slowly drew his Blade, gripped the hilt tightly with his left hand, and began his daily practice.
Chop, slash, thrust, parry.
His movements were still concise and sharp, but compared to when he had just lost his right arm, there was now a bit more steadiness and fluidity. The muscle memory in his left arm was rapidly forming, and he was becoming more accustomed to it.
Zoro put down the barbell, panting, his gaze fixed on the blade in Tomioka's hand. He watched for a while, then suddenly spoke: "Hey, Tomioka, I've been a bit curious before."
Tomioka stopped his movements and looked at him.
"This sword of yours," Zoro pointed, "doesn't it have a name?"
Tomioka looked down at the gleaming blade in his hand, was silent for a moment, then replied: "No… This one is newly forged."
He paused and said, "My old one… broke."
In his mind, he briefly saw the Blade shattered by Akaza, and later, the scene where the Swordsmith Village chief, Tecchin, solemnly handed him this newly forged Blade.
Although he had desperately refused, the stubborn chief had forcefully put it into his hand, saying that as the Water Hashira, how could he not have a Blade on him.
"No name? That won't do!"
Zoro's voice immediately grew louder upon hearing that. In Zoro's eyes, it was a huge problem; a sword couldn't be nameless, just as one must recite a poem during battle.
"A sword is a swordsman's soulmate! Listen, I'll teach you how to give your sword a good name that suits it!"
Then Zoro walked over to Tomioka's side and began to babble to Tomioka about the philosophy of naming… As it approached noon, Tomioka saw Usopp peering around the cabin entrance. Tomioka immediately recalled the other's endless chatter and decisively turned around, silently circling to the other side of the ship.
"Huh? I thought I just saw Tomioka?" Usopp scratched his head, a puzzled expression on his face.
Tomioka walked to the stern and saw Vivi. She was squatting there, gently grooming a… large yellow duck?
Tomioka's footsteps halted, a rare, clear look of bewilderment appearing on his face.
"It… when did it get here?" he couldn't help but ask.
Vivi looked up, smiled, and stroked the duck's head, looking at Tomioka: "This one, it's named Dash. It was already on board before we even got on, and it's an important companion of mine too."
[Interpersonal Communication Manual (Trial Version)]
[Subject: Vivi]
[Status: Feigning Strength]
[Preference: Grooming]
[Suggestion: Offer Encouragement]
Tomioka looked at Vivi's smiling face, then at the floating manual in the air, and was somewhat stunned. So, this smile was merely an act, put on to feign strength... Was a princess also such an existence... Then Tomioka looked at the duck named "Dash" again, he wanted to say something, something that could give some encouragement to this young princess in front of him.
If one is to save a declining kingdom on the brink of collapse, then powerful strength is necessary. Although the princess in front of him is still very weak now, given time and more practice, she will inevitably have a glimmer of possibility to become strong.
He mulled it over for a moment, then spoke in a serious tone: "You, can become stronger."
Vivi: "???"
Dash: "Quack?"
Just then, the weather changed without warning.
The temperature plummeted, cold air swept in, the sky quickly darkened, and large snowflakes began to fall heavily!
"Wow! It's snowing!" Luffy shouted from the mast.
"Idiot! Is this the time for snow?!"
Nami's shout immediately rang out, "Quick! Reef the sails halfway! Zoro, you go to the bow and watch the situation! Sanji, see if anything needs securing! Vivi, take Dash into the cabin! Usopp, don't just stand there!"
Everyone immediately sprang into action, Tomioka, Vivi, and Dash also went to help.
Tomioka watched the group instantly get into action, and he too instinctively began to help the flustered Usopp tighten a rope.
"Hey!"
Luffy squatted on the ground, quickly packed a huge snowball, grinned, and hurled it at Zoro, who was closest to him!
Splat! The snowball exploded on Zoro's head.
"You wanna fight, you bastard?!" Zoro roared, and immediately grabbed a handful of snow to retaliate.
A free-for-all immediately broke out!
Usopp, meanwhile, hid in the back, secretly beginning to make his special snow bombs. Nami watched with a smile for a while, then couldn't help but join the fray.
Tomioka stood to the side, watching these companions who had just been serious, but in an instant were playing like children. A snowball, by chance, flew towards him; he tilted his head slightly, and the snowball grazed his hair as it flew past.
Snow, huh… It really brings back some memories… A nostalgic expression appeared on his face as he caught the falling snowflakes in his hand, gently rubbing them together.
Splat —
"Hahahahahahaha, Tomioka, you can't let your guard down." It was Roux; he had just seen Tomioka dodge his snowball, then rubbed a large one together and directly hit Tomioka's face.
But Tomioka, having been hit, displayed a rare smile, then rubbed the snowflakes in his hand into a ball, assumed a stance, aimed at Roux, and faint patterns appeared on his face.
"Water Breathing · Total Concentration."
"Ah ah ah, it hurts so much, why does this snowball hurt so much!"
"Hahahahahahahaha, well done, Tomioka!"
...After the playful chaos, the deck was a mess, and everyone was tired. The sunshine after the snowstorm felt warm and comforting.
Suddenly, Nami, who was standing at the bow, spoke: "Everyone… look ahead."
Hearing her, everyone gathered at the bow.
In the distance, on the horizon, a colossal outline appeared.
They could see vast stretches of trees, and faintly, two immense white mountains. There was also a faint, heavy roar of a beast, echoing indistinctly from afar.
It felt as if an ancient and dangerous aura permeated the place.
"Small Garden," Nami took a deep breath, speaking its name, "We've arrived."