The moonlight was bright, the night breeze cool.
Inside the cabin of the Sunset.
Xiano carried Robin in his arms, walking down the long corridor. He gently nudged the door open with his elbow and stepped into her room.
The weight of the person in his arms was lighter than he'd imagined.
Moonlight spilled through the porthole as Xiano carefully laid Robin down on the bed.
Unconsciously, Robin curled up, like a black cat that had finally found a safe corner. Her hair scattered across the pillow, her breathing even and steady.
The faint scent of alcohol mixed with the elegant fragrance unique to a mature woman drifted into his nose. Coupled with the astonishing softness he accidentally brushed against with his arm…
It was hard not to feel his heart race.
But his gaze remained clear. After tucking the thin blanket around her, he quietly stood by the bed.
Looking down at Robin's flushed face, deep in sleep, Xiano sighed.
She really had drunk too much.
In front of everyone, she'd even blurted out things like, "Just partners?"
It had startled him.
Perhaps…
Today's meeting with Aokiji had finally dispelled the nightmares that had haunted her since childhood, lifting the heaviest chains from her heart.
That was why she'd let herself relax to the point of losing composure.
"If it weren't for my Observation Haki confirming you're really asleep," Xiano crouched down, arms crossed, grinning, "I'd think you were testing me, Robin."
He couldn't withstand many tests like this.
One more, and he really wouldn't be able to hold back.
After all, who wouldn't like a beautiful older sister with long black hair?
But…
His relationship with Robin was far from reaching that stage.
Robin was the latest member to join the crew. Compared to the others, she had spent the past month gradually integrating into the group.
Only after what happened today had the final barrier between them been torn down.
Did Robin have feelings for him?
Maybe a little.
But Xiano knew very well that the dependence Robin had shown toward him in the dining hall, fueled by alcohol, stemmed more from a longing for security and comfort.
Not romantic affection.
At a time like this…
Taking advantage of her while she was unconscious would only shatter the unconditional trust she had just begun to place in him.
As for how their relationship would develop from here…
Well, it was best to let things unfold naturally, one step at a time.
"Goodnight, Robin."
Xiano stood up, quietly closed the door, and his footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.
…
Only after his figure disappeared into the training room doorway did three heads peek out from behind the corner, one after another.
Black hair, orange hair, and blue hair.
"Wahaha, see? I told you! My bro's always upright—he's not that kind of guy!"
"I kinda feel like he noticed us sneaking after him… Too bad. If we weren't here, maybe things would've worked out?"
"No!"
"Huh?" Nami and Nojiko both looked up in surprise.
"What do you mean, 'no'?"
"…" The person froze, realizing she had accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud.
"…"
The young Master Swordsman lowered her eyelids slightly, her expression blank. "What I mean is, stop peeking here and go back to sleep. This behavior is very inappropriate."
Huh?
Weren't you the one who rushed us back to the restaurant?
Nami and Nojiko exchanged glances, both seeing suspicion in each other's eyes.
Hiss, why does it feel like...
There might be more than one Robin on this ship?
...
In the blink of an eye.
Dawn arrived the next day.
When Robin opened her eyes, sunlight already filled the entire room.
The hangover left her head dull and heavy. Rubbing her temples, memories of last night gradually flooded back like the tide.
「Under the warm orange lamplight, she tugged at Xiano's sleeve」
「Ara, just partners?」
As these words surfaced in her mind, her ears immediately burned red.
"What on earth did I do..."
Burying her face in the pillow in frustration, it took her a long time to muster the courage to turn over.
So, so improper.
Those words, those actions from last night—recalling them now was suffocatingly embarrassing.
Wait, the Captain didn't take it seriously, did he?
"..."
Robin took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She slowly sat up, scanning the room—
On the nightstand sat a glass of water and hangover medicine, likely left by Xiano this morning when he saw she hadn't woken yet.
Otherwise, the room showed no signs of disturbance. Looking down, neither did her clothes.
It seemed nothing had happened.
That's a relief...
Right?
Pursing her lips, she got up to wash up.
The reflection in the mirror showed her complexion had mostly returned to normal, though faint traces of redness lingered at her ears.
Robin stared blankly for a moment before lightly patting her cheeks. After practicing a few times in the mirror, she finally regained her usual composed smile.
...
Creak.
Pushing open the cabin door, she stepped onto the deck.
All her crewmates were gathered here, mostly clustered around the long table under the sunshade.
"Over here! Robin!"
Sharp-eyed Nami was the first to notice her, grinning as she waved a lottery tube:
"You're the last one! Didn't forget yesterday's agreement, right? Come draw lots—time to decide who takes the train and who sails!"
"Coming. Good morning, everyone."
She greeted them with calm composure, though her gaze involuntarily flickered toward Xiano.
The young man had already finished his training. Lounging on a rattan chair, he sipped coffee to stay alert while basking lazily in the sunlight.
Hearing the commotion, he turned his head and asked casually, "Awake now? Did you take the medicine? Head still hurting?"
His tone was perfectly natural, as if nothing had occurred.
"Yes, much better." Robin smiled gently.
Now she could be absolutely certain—nothing had happened last night.
A small sigh of relief escaped her, though inexplicably mixed with faint disappointment.
Fortunately, Nami chose that moment to start vigorously shaking the lottery tube, instantly snapping Robin back to reality.
"Here, draw one by one."
Seven hands—and one large paw—reached out simultaneously to each pull a lot.
"Meow!"
Nuomici wanted to participate too, but as a round little furball without proper hands, Nami coldly ignored it with a smirk.
The assignments were quickly decided.
Xiano, Smoker, Zeff and Agin would take the train.
Robin, Kuina, Nami and Nojiko would sail by ship.
This is the itinerary for the journey to Spring Queen City. Once we leave Spring Queen City and head to the next stop, City of Seven Waters, the arrangements will be swapped between the two groups.
"..." Xiano held the wooden stick, lost in thought.
"What's wrong, bro?"
Nami leaned over and took a glance. "Isn't it great to experience the Sea Train first? I'd love to ride it sooner. Want to swap with me?"
"It's not about the draw."
Xiano frowned, deep in thought. "It's just... now that we're about to leave this island, I feel like I've forgotten something..."
Huh, what was it?
Never mind, it probably wasn't important.
Just as everyone was preparing to set sail from the dock and head to the station, urgent shouts suddenly rang out from the shore.
"Lord Xiano! Lord Xiano!"
Pike rushed breathlessly to the front of the ship, his face filled with anxiety and unease, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.
"What's wrong?" Xiano immediately stepped forward. "Didn't you settle down on the island? Did something happen again?"
"Are... are you leaving?"
"Yeah." Xiano nodded. "We've replenished our supplies. It's time to head to the next island."
"Then... what about my son?"
Pike glanced around the deck, his expression falling. "I don't see him. So... you didn't take him in after all?"
Of course.
Lord Xiano's ship wasn't just for anyone to board.
He'd been too hopeful...
"Your son?" Xiano looked puzzled.
"It's Jack. You should know him, right?"
Pike was also confused now and scratched his head. "He came to see you yesterday to apologize and also to pledge his loyalty to you from now on. Did you two not meet?"
Who?
Jack?!
"..."
Xiano smacked his forehead.
He finally remembered what he'd forgotten.
...
Ten minutes later.
Town center, the garden.
Jack had reverted to his human form, crouched on a bench, warming his hands by the fire but still shivering uncontrollably.
Icicles clung to his eyebrows and hair, his lips were purple—clearly, he'd suffered quite a bit through the night.
"Dad... I'm sorry. I... I think I messed up..." he stammered, his voice full of regret.
"You didn't mess up, but you came pretty close!"
Pike stood on a chair, tiptoeing as he rubbed his adopted son's arms with a hot towel, his heart aching.
"Luckily, I noticed you hadn't come back all night and thought something was wrong, so I went to find Lord Xiano. If I'd been any later, you really would've frozen to death, you idiot!"
"That's a Navy Admiral! You fool, charging in like that without a second thought! What did I teach you? Don't act so recklessly! If you'd just explained your intentions to Lord Xiano properly, would any of this have happened?"
Nearby.
Xiano and the others exchanged glances, momentarily torn between laughter and exasperation.
Along the way, they'd already pieced together the whole story from their conversation with Pike.
This straightforward, earnest giant had learned yesterday that the person who saved his father was someone he'd once fought against. Overcome with guilt, he'd decided to come and apologize.
Pike, meanwhile, felt that his adopted son's abilities were wasted working as a dockhand, so he encouraged him to take it a step further—to pledge his loyalty and serve Lord Xiano.
As for the result...
Jack had just found Xiano in the garden when he witnessed Aokiji closing in step by step. Furious, he immediately took action without another word.
As for Xiano, due to his dark history in Alabasta, the others still saw him as an enemy and paid him no mind.
Later, because Robin got drunk and made a scene, everyone followed Xiano back to the ship early.
In short.
Through a series of coincidences.
The poor guy ended up frozen in the silent, deserted garden all night.
If not for his Fish-man physique and the resilience granted by the Mammoth Fruit, he might have already kicked the bucket.
"Hehe, good thing I was here."
Nami smirked proudly, snapping her fingers as a dazzling spark burst from her fingertips, adding more fuel to the bonfire in front of Jack.
She had built the bonfire herself, and it was also her Flame-Flame Fruit ability that had quickly melted Aokiji's ice.
Anyone else would have had a much harder time dealing with that massive block of ice.
"Much warmer now..."
Jack lifted his head, looking at the orange-haired girl before him. Though still shivering all over, he forced a grateful smile:
"Th-thank you, Boss Nami!"
His teeth chattered, his voice halting. "If not for your help... I might've really frozen to death..."
In the endless cold, his consciousness had long blurred. He didn't know how long he endured before gradually coming to.
And the first flicker of firelight he saw, the first smile he encountered, came from this kind and warm-hearted human girl before him.
So, he was filled with genuine gratitude toward Nami. Struggling to stand and bow, his legs gave out, nearly sending him crashing to the ground.
Pike quickly steadied him, shaking his head in concern.
"Hey, no need to be so formal!"
Nami waved her hand. "It was nothing, really. But remember, don't be so reckless next time—that was a Navy Admiral! Among us, only Big Bro can handle someone like that. You? Forget it."
She put on an exaggeratedly mature air, trying to exude boss-like authority as she reached to pat Jack's shoulder in reassurance—only to realize she couldn't reach, settling for patting his knee instead.
But...
The corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably, betraying just how smug she felt inside, with even a few tiny flames flickering happily at her hairline.
—He called me Boss!!!
"You're absolutely right."
Jack nodded emphatically. "That guy is seriously strong. But if I see him lay a hand on Lord Xiano again, I won't let him off, no matter what!"
Nami: "?"
Wait, did none of that sink in?
Ugh.
It wasn't that she had stereotypes about big guys.
But...
Tall people really aren't the brightest, huh.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Nami yelped as Xiano gave her ear a sharp tug.
"What was that for, Bro?!" she whined, turning to him indignantly.
Even if it was her brother, he needed a reason to bully her!
She fumed, ready to retaliate—but then remembered her brother's actual height and shrank back with an awkward chuckle.
Xiano snorted. Having grown up together, did she really think he wouldn't know what was going through her head?
Jack clearly had no idea what Nami was thinking. He turned to Xiano and, with a thud, immediately dropped to his knees before him.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Jack stammered, "Lord Xiano! I haven't even had the chance to thank you for saving my father's life, and now I've caused you trouble again. Back in Alabasta, I—I was still under Hanafuda's control and attacked everyone…"
"Nobody remembers that!" Nojiko teased with a laugh. "Didn't you just sink straight to the bottom of the sea? Nobody even got a good look at your face."
Jack's face flushed red with embarrassment.
That moment had indeed been far too humiliating.
Luckily, even after eating a Devil Fruit, Fish-men could still breathe underwater. Otherwise, what would have washed ashore in Gourmet City would have been a corpse.
"No need for apologies."
Xiano shook his head and helped Jack up:
"Back then, you were still under Hanafuda's control, after all. Besides, you didn't cause any real trouble."
He paused, studying the hulking man with interest. "But I did hear from your father that you want to follow me now?"
Huh?
Did Lord Xiano approve?
Pike immediately perked up, about to discreetly kick his foster son.
But Jack had already jerked his head up, eyes shining, stammering excitedly:
"Yes! Lord Xiano! I—I'm strong, I can work hard! Even if my brain doesn't get a lot of things, if you tell me to go east, I'll never go west!"
"And I've got skills too!"
He thumped his chest. "Hanafuda said I'm a rare Ancient Zoan type with huge potential. I might not be able to beat that powerful Marine Admiral yet, but other Pirates or Marine Vice Admirals? I'll knock them all flying!"
"What about Vice Admiral Garp?" Nami asked with a grin.
Garp?
Never heard of him, but if he's just a Vice Admiral…
"No problem at all!" Jack puffed out his chest, answering firmly. "Guys like that? However many come, I'll beat them all!"
"Pfft!"
Nami and Nojiko couldn't hold back anymore, bursting into laughter.
"…" Xiano was speechless too.
He glanced up at Jack, who was scratching his head in confusion, then pinched his chin, lost in thought.
Seeing that Xiano was genuinely considering it, Jack grew nervous. Beside him, Pike instinctively grabbed his foster son's arm, palms sweating with tension.
...
Admittedly,
Xiano was somewhat tempted.
In the original timeline, just six years later, Jack—still only in his twenties—had already become one of the Beast Pirates' top three Disasters.
As Hanafuda had said, this guy's potential was top-tier.
More importantly,
At just 22 years old, Jack hadn't yet gone down the wrong path. He was straightforward and loyal, and because of Pike, he held deep gratitude toward Xiano.
Once onboard, he'd undoubtedly be a trustworthy comrade.
The only downside, perhaps…
was that his approach to things was… slightly reckless.
"Bro, why not take him?"
Nojiko whispered beside him. "The ship could use someone strong—for moving things, repairs, stuff like that."
"Yeah, yeah!"
Nami quickly chimed in, staring eagerly at Xiano. "He's a bit dumb, sure, but he's got a good personality. Really reliable!"
She kept calling him "this kid" as if Jack were younger than her.
Nami didn't care about anything else—she only knew one thing.
—This big guy was someone she personally saved, and he even called her "boss"!
Just hearing Jack address her like that made her vanity explode.
If she could get him on board, she'd have another obedient underling, and her status on the ship would skyrocket.
Not to mention, Jack didn't even have a bounty yet, which meant her bounty would finally no longer be the lowest!
Xiano glanced at the others and, seeing no objections, finally nodded.
"Alright."
He smiled and extended a hand to Jack. "Sorry about forgetting you here last night—that was my bad. Thanks for stepping up to help. Starting today, you're one of us. Welcome to the Falling Stars Adventure Crew."
Jack froze for a second before erupting in joy. He grabbed Xiano's hand and shook it wildly, nearly flinging him into the sky.
"Thank you, Lord Xiano! I—I won't let you down!"
"Relax, no need to get so worked up."
Xiano steadied himself with a bit of force, then noticed someone's expression and added, "And don't call me 'Lord.' 'Captain' or 'Boss' is fine."
Kuina's furrowed brows instantly smoothed out.
"Yes! Boss Xiano!!!"
Jack's booming reply was so loud it left everyone's ears ringing.
"Go home first. Pack whatever you need, have breakfast with your old man, and say your goodbyes properly."
Xiano patted his arm. "You've got an hour. After that, we set sail."
"Yes, Boss Xiano!!!"
...
The Sunset finally left the harbor.
Cutting through the waves, it sailed toward the Sea Train station on the island's northern side.
Pike stood on the dock, laughing and waving as he bid Jack farewell, watching the ship's silhouette gradually vanish into the distance.
His wish had been fulfilled, and pride surged through him, momentarily overwhelming any sadness.
Once he got back, he was definitely going to brag to all the other freed slaves.
These ordinary folks wanted to be deckhands but weren't even noticed by Lord Xiano, yet his son has already become an official crew member of the Sunset!
A true man's ambitions lie far and wide. Since he's fortunate enough to follow Lord Xiano, the future Jack will surely return to his hometown one day as an extraordinary figure!
...
Meanwhile, on the deck of the Sunset.
"Before we reach the Sea Train station, let's get your room sorted first. The men's and women's quarters are separate, ten rooms each. The men's are on the right side—don't wander off to the wrong side. Just follow me, rookie."
Smoker, puffing on his cigar, was about to lead Jack around when a loud thud sounded from behind.
"..."
Smoker turned his head and saw Jack clutching his forehead, frowning slightly.
"Too tall after all, huh? Over eight meters... Looks like you'll have to hunch over inside the ship from now on. Be careful."
The main entrance of the Sunset's cabin was a full five meters high, and the ceiling inside was around six meters—more than enough for most situations. But this kid was the exception.
"Yes! I'll be careful, Big Brother Smoker!" Jack stood at attention, his expression serious.
Not bad, this kid.
Smoker grinned.
"Can't have you like this forever—it's too stifling."
After a moment of thought, he offered advice. "Boss Xiano is one of the world's top martial artists. You should ask him for guidance and master Life Return as soon as possible. That way, you'll be able to move freely inside the ship."
"Life Return? Understood, Senior Smoker! Thank you for the advice!"
"Mhm, that's for later. For now, keep following me."
As they walked down the hallway, Kuina happened to pass by, polishing her sword. She glanced at Jack. "Hey, rookie. Your abilities are pretty good. When you have time, spar with me."
Thick-skinned and sturdy—he'd make a great test dummy for her swordsmanship.
"Yes! Vice Captain Kuina!"
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