The scene shifted. Half an hour later, in the villa's spacious dining room.
The group was eating until their faces were slick with grease. The unpleasant incident at the plaza had been thoroughly chased to the back of their minds by the overwhelming offensive of gourmet food.
"It was a split-second crisis, I tell you!"
Usopp, clutching a chicken leg, was vividly recounting "Captain Usopp's" harrowing battle to a captive Kaya. "Just as dozens of pirates swarmed up, I stood my ground without a hint of fear and let out a mighty roar!"
"I unleashed my Special Attack: Fire Star! In an instant, they were all blown sky-high!"
His description of the battle was technically accurate... provided you replaced Viktor with his own "valiant" self.
Kaya pressed a hand to her mouth, letting out a cooperative gasp of surprise. "How incredible, Mr. Usopp." As she spoke, her gentle eyes drifted toward Viktor, who was quietly slicing a steak nearby.
She knew perfectly well who had truly crushed those pirates and executed Kuro in an instant. It was likely this vice-captain who always wore a pleasant smile.
"Awoo! Awoo!"
A strange swallowing sound erupted from the side. Luffy's arms were blurs of motion, snatching meat from plates and stuffing it into his mouth without chewing. His cheeks bulged like giant rubber pockets, and his throat worked rhythmically.
Gulp. A whole platter of meat vanished. Kaya watched this, her eyes going round with wonder. "Amazing... I'm usually full after just one piece of meat."
"Hmph, Kaya, don't underestimate a pirate's stomach! My capacity is also quite legendary!" Usopp's competitive streak flared. He grabbed a large bone-in ham and tried to mimic Luffy's vacuum-like eating style.
"Mgh! Guh... Cough! Cough! Hack!!"
But he lacked Luffy's "cheating" rubber physiology. The meat lodged firmly in his throat. His eyes rolled back as he slumped onto the table, frantically pounding the wood for help.
"Are you guys idiots?" Nami, sipping tea elegantly, offered a weary critique.
"Hehehe..." Kaya watched the slapstick scene and burst into a heartfelt laugh. "It's so nice... if only I could have a group of companions to go on adventures and laugh with like that..." A flicker of envy and loneliness touched her gaze.
"That can be very dangerous, Miss Kaya," Merry said softly, handing a glass of water to the gasping Usopp before smiling at his mistress.
Kaya nodded obediently, but the yearning in her eyes didn't fade. Merry sighed inwardly. If only her body were healthy enough, perhaps she really could see the outside world. He forced a smile and turned to the feasting crew.
"Ah, that reminds me. To thank you for saving Miss Kaya and the village, I have already sent a token of our gratitude to the North Coast."
"AH?! IS IT A BIG SHIP?!" Luffy swallowed his backlog of meat in one go and jumped up excitedly.
Merry nodded with a smile, pulling a manifest from his coat. "Yes. Furthermore, I've prepared enough supplies—fresh water, food, and wine—to sustain your voyage for a month."
"AAAAH!! YOU'RE SUCH A GREAT GUY, SHEEP-HEADED BUTLER!!" Luffy cried, eyes welling with gratitude.
Merry's mouth twitched as he touched his horn-shaped hairstyle. Sheep-head... what a title.
Led by Merry and Kaya, the group made their way to the North Coast. As they rounded the slope, their eyes were immediately drawn to the water.
A brand-new brig was anchored peacefully in the bay. The hull wasn't massive, but the lines were elegant and smooth—a classic caravel design.
Most striking was the prow: a carved, adorable sheep's head. The mainsail was furled, ready to catch the wind.
"WAAAAAH!!!" Luffy's jaw hit the sand, drool practically leaking out. The others were equally stunned; this was leagues beyond their previous dinghies.
Merry stepped forward, pride evident in his voice. "Though the style is a bit old—the blueprints are from a few years ago—this is my pride and joy: the Going Merry! From now on, she belongs to you!"
"Now, allow me to introduce the handling and structure—"
"MOVE! OUT OF THE WAY!" Nami shoved Luffy aside without mercy, her eyes glowing with the fire of a thousand Berries. "Talk to me about the ship! That idiot Luffy won't understand a word!"
"OHHHH! MY SHIP!!" Luffy didn't care about being shoved. He stretched his arms and zipped onto the deck. He ran around touching the sheep's head and pulling on the rigging, screaming with excitement.
On the shore, Kaya watched them and smiled. She turned to Viktor, who was standing quietly by the sea. "Mr. Viktor, I hope you like the ship."
"Ah, we love it. It's exactly what we needed." Viktor turned to her, noticing her hesitant expression. He said warmly, "If you have something on your mind, Miss Kaya, just say it. At the moment of parting, there's no need for hesitation."
Caught out, Kaya blushed and looked down at her shoes, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Well... if it's not too much trouble... could I experience that one more time?"
She meant the Genjutsu experience from before.
"Of course. It would be my pleasure." Viktor's eyes shifted to the crimson Sharingan. "Look into my eyes."
The world changed. The pain and weakness vanished. She was back on the vast, limitless ocean. The sea breeze kissed her cheeks, gulls cried in the blue sky, and waves tapped rhythmically against the hull.
"Kaya... it's time for dinner!"
A familiar, warm call came from behind. Kaya spun around. On the far end of the deck, her parents were standing there, waving and smiling at her just as they had when she was a child.
Kaya froze in place.
The Genjutsu ended. In the real world, tears streamed down Kaya's pale cheeks. But this time, they weren't tears of grief—they were tears of closure.
"Thank you... truly, thank you, Mr. Viktor. You are a good person." She wiped her eyes and gave him a brilliant smile.
"A good person...?" Viktor shrugged, neither accepting nor rejecting the label. He said softly, "I hope you can stay strong, Miss Kaya. Since you've survived, you must live a wonderful life—for your parents' sake as well as your own."
"Yes... I will!" Kaya nodded firmly.
Just then...
"WAAAAAH!! GET OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE!!"
A panicked scream erupted from the slope. A massive bundle—twice the size of the person carrying it—was tumbling down the steep incline like a giant fleshy boulder.
"Ah, it's Mr. Usopp," Kaya noted. "He must have gone to get his luggage."
"What is that idiot doing...?" Viktor facepalmed.
"We should probably stop him before he dents the Merry," Zoro suggested.
"Agreed."
The two shared a look and raised their feet in perfect synchronization.
THUD!
Their boots caught the "Usopp-boulder" dead center.
"Ow, ow, ow..." Usopp groaned, pinned under the weight of his own massive bag. He scrambled out, dusting himself off. "Ah... thanks, guys. Couldn't find the brakes."
"Mr. Usopp, have you decided?" Kaya asked softly, looking at the luggage.
Usopp adjusted his goggles and gave her a confident grin. "Yeah! I've gotta set out before I lose my nerve! A brave warrior of the sea can't back down!" He gave her a thumbs-up. "When I come back to this village, I'll tell you even better, more amazing adventure stories! I'm off! Kaya!"
Usopp turned and started walking toward a small wooden skiff by the shore. He took a few steps, expecting someone to stop him. Nobody did.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Zoro, leaning over the railing of the Going Merry, frowned at the long-nosed youth. "Get on the ship, you idiot."
"Eh?" Usopp froze.
Luffy poked his head over the stern, looking confused. "We're waiting for you, Usopp. Aren't we already nakama?"
"Na... Nakama..." Usopp's eyes went wide. His lip trembled. They had considered him a comrade all along? A wave of emotion surged through him, and he fought back tears of joy.
"You... you bastards!" He spun around, hoisted his massive pack, and sprinted toward the Merry. To hide his embarrassment, he roared, "Fine! In that case, I... I'll be the Captain!!"
"HA?! Don't be stupid! I'm the Captain!!" Luffy countered, hauling him over the railing.
"SET SAIL!!"
With Luffy's command, the Going Merry slowly drifted away from the shore, heading into the vast blue.
On the beach, Kaya and Merry stood side-by-side. "Miss Kaya, the wind is picking up. We should go back," Merry said gently.
Kaya watched the silhouette of the long-nosed boy waving frantically from the deck. She wiped away the last of her tears and smiled. "I really do have to become stronger, so I can hear their stories again... Merry, let's go home."
Merry looked at his young mistress's vibrant face and smiled. He turned toward the disappearing ship and bowed deeply.
"Thank you... Pirates."
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