The morning sun cast long shadows across the festival grounds as I watched the merchant ships finally arrive at the harbor.
'About time.'
Three days of constant celebration, and now the practical stuff was finally getting done. The supply vessels bobbed in the water like fat, contented ducks, their holds full of the extra food and provisions we'd ordered.
Right behind them came the flotilla of construction ships – the architects and workers Tobias had commissioned to rebuild what Arlong and his crew had destroyed over eight years of tyrannical rule.
The villagers rushed to greet the newcomers with the same manic enthusiasm they'd shown for everything else since Arlong's defeat. Even the architects and construction workers, who were clearly here for business rather than celebration, found themselves swept up in the infectious joy of the crowd.
"Welcome to the island of perpetual insanity," I muttered under my breath, watching as a burly carpenter was immediately handed a bottle of sake and dragged into an impromptu dance circle.
"Hachiman!" Nojiko's voice cut through my observations. "Don't even think about going to that old accountant."
I turned to see Nami's older sister approaching with that stern expression she'd perfected in basically one day—the one reserved specifically for keeping me from doing anything resembling work.
'And first-name basis already? Damn, when did that switch happen!'
"I wasn't—"
"Yes, you were. I can see it in your eyes." She crossed her arms and fixed me with a look that could have intimidated Arlong himself. "These guys can hold on just fine without you. What you need to do now is to rest, eat, drink, and pretend to be human for a few more hours."
'Pretend to be human, she said… well, I can ask Delgado to keep me updated.'
I sighed and raised my hands in surrender. "Fine. I'll go find somewhere quiet to observe the madness from a safe distance."
"Good. And Hachiman?" She smiled, but there was something almost predatory about it. "Try to actually enjoy yourself for once. The world won't end if you take a break."
As I wandered through the festival grounds, something caught my attention that made me pause.
Throughout the celebration, I'd noticed people collapsing from exhaustion, which was expected after three days of non-stop partying
What wasn't expected was what happened when they woke up.
A middle-aged fisherman near the central plaza had just stirred from what looked like an impromptu nap against a barrel.
The moment his eyes opened, his face crumpled, and tears began streaming down his cheeks.
But instead of sadness, his expression showed pure, overwhelming joy.
"It's real," he whispered, his voice cracking. "It's still real."
Immediately, other villagers nearby began crying too—not from sympathy, but from the same sudden rush of happiness. They helped the man to his feet, and within moments, they were all celebrating again with renewed vigor.
'Oh.' The realization hit me like a physical blow to the chest. 'They think it might be a dream.'
I watched as the same scene played out across the festival. People would fall asleep from exhaustion, wake up crying, and immediately throw themselves back into the celebration as if they'd just received the news of Arlong's defeat for the first time.
'Eight years.'
Eight years of living under the constant threat of death, of having their loved ones murdered for not paying tribute, of watching their children grow up knowing they might not live to see adulthood.
'No wonder they can't believe it's over.'
These people had been psychologically conditioned to expect the worst possible outcome in every situation. The idea that their nightmare had actually ended, that they could wake up tomorrow without fear—it was so foreign to their lived experience that their minds couldn't fully accept it.
When they fall asleep and wake up to find Arlong still gone, the relief hits them all over again.
I found myself wondering if I'd react the same way when I finally made it home.
Would I collapse in my apartment, convinced it was all an elaborate dream? Would I wake up in a cold sweat, expecting to find myself back on a ship in the middle of the Grand Line or something?
'Probably. Two years of this insanity would mess with anyone's head.'
"There you are!"
'Hmm…'
I turned to see an elderly man approaching—Dr. Nako, the village physician. His expression was a mixture of professional concern and barely contained frustration.
"Doctor," I acknowledged with a slight nod.
"Don't 'Doctor' me, you stubborn fool." He grabbed my arm with surprising strength for someone his age. "You're coming with me. Now."
'Great. The jig is up.'
"I'm fine, really. The wounds are healing nicely—"
"The wounds are healing in spite of your complete disregard for basic medical care, not because of it." His grip tightened.
"Three days. Three days you've been walking around like nothing happened, and I just found out you haven't had so much as a bandage."
'Technically, I haven't needed bandages. Hamon handles most of the healing process internally.' But explaining that would raise questions I wasn't prepared to answer.
"I've been managing—"
"You've been managing to give everyone heart attacks every time you stumble or wince." Dr. Nako's voice carried the authority of someone who'd been patching up villagers since before I was born.
"Nojiko's been worried sick, and even that rubber boy and his friends keep asking if you're going to collapse."
'Luffy and the others? That's... actually kind of touching. In a completely ridiculous way.'
I allowed myself to be dragged to the village infirmary, a small building that smelled of antiseptic and medicinal herbs.
The doctor immediately began bustling around, gathering supplies while muttering under his breath about "stubborn young idiots" and "death wishes."
"Shirt off," he ordered without looking at me.
'Well, whatever.'
I reluctantly removed my outer shirt and undershirt, revealing the patchwork of cuts, burns, and bruises I'd accumulated during the battle against Gyaro.
Dr. Nako's hands stilled for a moment as he took in the damage. "Holy... How are you even standing?"
'Hamon breathing techniques, enhanced healing from supernatural energy manipulation, and a healthy dose of spite.'
"It's not as bad as it looks?"
"Not as bad as—" He stared at me incredulously. "Son, I've been a doctor for forty years. I've seen men twice your size laid up for weeks with injuries half this severe."
He began his examination, prodding at various wounds with the clinical detachment of someone who'd seen too much suffering to be squeamish about it. His touch was surprisingly gentle despite his gruff demeanor.
"This should have killed you," he muttered, examining a particularly nasty burn mark on my shoulder. "The infection alone... But they're healing clean. Faster than they should be."
'Much faster than they should be. Thank you, Hamon.'
"Whatever 'mojo' you've got working for you, it's doing a fine job at keeping you alive," Dr. Nako continued, beginning to clean and rebandage the worst of the wounds.
"But that doesn't mean you can push yourself like this. Your body still needs time to recover properly."
I nodded, but I knew that Hamon had lightened the pain a lot and healed much of the wounds.
I intentionally didn't try to get any medical attention because, aside from me wanting to test the limit of my Hamon healing, I was also trying to instill in my brain that this win didn't come easily.
I knew that I had made many mistakes during this battle. In fact, most of the success came from relying more on the Straw Hats and the villagers, utilizing tactical weapons in this battle, and the scraps of my own luck.
'If I tried to do this alone—like I intended originally—I would most likely be dead.'
"You're a workaholic," Dr. Nako declared, securing a bandage around my ribs. "I've seen your type before. Can't sit still, always have to be doing something productive."
'A workaholic?' The accusation hit me like a physical blow, far worse than any injury I'd sustained in the fight. 'Me? The same person who had the dream of being a House Husband?'
The bitter irony wasn't lost on me. Hikigaya Hachiman, the passionate hater of corporate slavery, was called a workaholic because he'd spent three days helping rebuild communities devastated by eight years of tyranny.
'What has my life become?'
"I'm not a workaholic," I protested weakly. "I just... There was work that needed to be done."
"Don't use this argument against an old man, boy. There's always work that needs to be done. That doesn't mean you have to do all of it yourself." Dr. Nako continued his examination, occasionally making disapproving noises at particularly severe injuries.
"The pain alone should have been unbearable. How were you even moving around?"
"Some of the 'mojo' and adrenaline, I suppose," I said reactively.
"I don't know about the mojo, but adrenaline doesn't last three days, son." Dr. Nako snorted.
He finished his examination and began applying fresh bandages, his movements efficient and practiced. The antiseptic stung, but it was nothing compared to the psychological discomfort of being fussed over by someone who clearly cared about my well-being.
"You're lucky these are healing so well on their own," Dr. Nako said, securing the last bandage. "But next time—and God help us all, I hope there isn't a next time—you see a doctor immediately. Understood?"
"Understood." I stood and began putting my shirt back on, grateful to cover the evidence of my recent brush with mortality.
'Next time.' As if there was any question, there would be a next time. I was about to sail into the Grand Line with a crew that attracted trouble like a magnet. This was probably the last peaceful medical examination I'd have for months.
"Thank you, Doctor," I said, meaning it more than he probably realized.
"Don't thank me yet. Thank me when you've learned to take better care of yourself." He fixed me with a stern look. "Now get out of here and try to enjoy what's left of the festival. Doctor's orders."
The door suddenly swung open, revealing Nami silhouetted against the bright afternoon light. She stepped inside, then stopped short when she saw me standing there shirtless, fresh bandages visible beneath my open shirt.
'Perfect. Because this day wasn't awkward enough already.'
For a moment, neither of us moved. Nami's eyes took in the extent of the visible injuries with something that looked almost like surprise, while I stood there feeling inexplicably embarrassed about the whole situation.
'It's not like she hasn't seen worse. She was there when half of this damage happened.'
"What is it?" I asked, quickly buttoning my shirt and trying to project an air of casual indifference.
"Oh," she said finally, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. "I didn't realize you were..."
She seemed to shake herself back to the present.
"I was just wondering if you'd finally decided to stop being so rigid and enjoy yourself with everyone for a bit." Her tone was light, almost teasing. "You've been giving my sister a hard time, you know."
'First Workaholic and now Rigid?' The observation stung more than it should have. 'I prefer "cautiously responsible," thank you very much.'
"Someone has to make sure everything's going well," I replied, then decided to turn the question back on her.
"Speaking of which, have you finally decided to show your face? Your crewmates have been wondering where you've been."
'Well, our crewmates,' I corrected myself silently. 'Still syncing to that particular development.'
"I had a few things to do," she said with a slight shrug. "I'll join them shortly after this."
Then she smiled, and there was something almost mischievous about it.
"Besides, they're not just my crewmates anymore. They're our crewmates, remember? Since you accepted Luffy's offer."
"Huh? You're joining that rubber boy's crew?" Behind me, Dr. Nako made a sound of surprise.
I sighed, feeling the weight of inevitability settling on my shoulders.
"Word travels fast around here."
"Hehe, Luffy was really happy," Nami explained, her smile widening. "He ran his mouth to literally everyone who would listen. Half the island knows by now that the famous Sorcerer of the East Blue has become a pirate."
'Of course he did. Because subtlety is completely foreign to my now rubber-brained Captain.'
"I should have expected as much from him." I felt heat rising in my cheeks at the thought of Luffy broadcasting my decision to anyone within earshot.
"You should have," Nami agreed, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "He's been bouncing around like a kid on his birthday."
'Great. I've made Luffy happy. Somehow that feels more terrifying than any fishman pirate I've faced.'
I straightened up and tried to regain some dignity.
"Well, since the news is apparently public knowledge now... yes, I've joined. Please take care of me." The formal politeness felt strange on my tongue, but old habits die hard.
'Might as well embrace the full Japanese social ritual. In for a penny, in for a pound.'
"I also hope you won't resort to your cheap lies again," I added, unable to resist the small barb.
I expected her usual explosive reaction—shouting, maybe a swing of her staff, definitely some creative threats involving my wallet. Instead, she looked away, her cheeks reddening slightly as she actually seemed... embarrassed?
'...What?'
"I... that's..." She sulked, still not meeting my eyes. "You don't have to bring that up."
'Is she actually feeling guilty about lying to us? Nami? The same person who probably has a PhD in manipulation and deception?'
The silence stretched awkwardly between us, filled only by the sound of Dr. Nako organizing his medical supplies with deliberate noise—clearly trying to pretend he wasn't listening to every word.
'This is getting uncomfortable fast. Time for a strategic retreat.'
I moved toward the door, but Nami's voice stopped me before I could escape.
"Hachiman."
'What now? And what's up with the first-name basis? Did society get an update yesterday? Was this one of the features? Why wasn't I informed? Do I need to call the customer service?'
I turned back to find her reaching out, her hand catching mine before I could step away. The contact was warm, unexpected, and somehow more unsettling than any of the arguments we'd engaged in a few days ago.
"…What is it?" I asked, trying to ignore the way my pulse had inexplicably quickened.
She hesitated for a moment, seeming to struggle with whatever she wanted to say.
"Thank you."
'Thank you?' The words were so unexpected I almost wondered if I'd heard her correctly.
"Even after I... even after how I treated you, you still decided to help me. Help this village." Her grip on my hand tightened slightly.
"You were even willing to go to such lengths to honor my mother's memory. Really, thank you."
I stared at her for a moment, trying to process this sudden display of genuine emotion.
Her mood had been shifting so rapidly that I was beginning to wonder if she had some kind of psychological condition.
'Part of me wants to use Mantra to get a read on her emotional state, just to figure out what's actually going on in her head. But that feels like cheating.'
"There's no need to thank me," I said finally. "I was doing it for myself, too. And I'm sure someone else would have suggested something like Bellmère's Foundation eventually."
'That's not entirely true, but it's close enough. The real heroes here are her friends—the Straw Hats. They're the ones who fought for her without expecting anything in return.'
"Your mother seems to be deeply respected in this village. Something like that was probably inevitable once people had time to process everything."
Before she could respond, I gently extracted my hand from hers and headed for the door with perhaps more haste than was strictly dignified.
'Avoid,' my instincts screamed. 'Avoid the crying women, avoid the emotional conversations, avoid the whole messy business of human feelings being expressed in public.'
I definitely prefer dealing with Iroha's brand of manipulation. At least her methods are straightforward—cute, devious, but ultimately predictable. This woman is just... confusing.
The afternoon sun felt almost blinding after the dim interior of the infirmary. I had barely taken a dozen steps when two familiar voices called out to me.
"Hey, Hachiman!" Usopp called out, waving enthusiastically. "How are the injuries?"
"They'll be…fine after a few days of rest," I replied, though the doctor's warnings about being a workaholic were still bothering me.
"That's great to hear!" Sanji said, his usual cigarette dangling from his lips. "You looked really terrible after that fight with the fishman. But I guess you're tougher than you look."
'Oi! What's that supposed to mean?' I wondered, but before I could ask, Sanji's attention had already moved on.
"Speaking of which," he continued, his expression taking on that lovestruck quality that appeared whenever certain topics came up, "I saw Nami-san heading toward the infirmary earlier. I hope she's not hurt..."
"The pre-installed romantic subroutine activating right on schedule," I said dryly.
Usopp appeared at my side and threw his arm around my shoulders with the kind of casual familiarity that made me deeply uncomfortable.
'Personal space, Usopp. It's a concept. I have given up on the first-name basis, but this is too much.'
"Ignore the love-cook," Usopp said with a wide grin. "We've got more important matters to discuss."
"What important matters?" I asked, trying to subtly extract myself from his grip.
"Celebrating your joining the crew, of course!" His enthusiasm was almost blinding. "This calls for a proper welcome party!"
'Oh no.' The sinking feeling in my stomach told me exactly where this was heading.
As if summoned by the mention of celebration, Luffy and Roronoa appeared from seemingly nowhere. How they managed to move so quietly was beyond me, especially given Luffy's usual volume level.
"Oh, did you guys catch him?" Luffy asked with the kind of excitement usually reserved for discovering new types of meat.
'Catch me? What am I, a runaway pet?'
"We got him," Usopp confirmed, his grip on my shoulder tightening as if he expected me to bolt.
'Which, to be fair, I was considering.'
"Great!" Luffy's grin was impossibly wide. "Time to celebrate our new nakama properly!"
And just like that, I found myself being dragged toward a corner of the festival that had been set up with an impressive array of food and drinks.
The amount of meat alone was staggering—clearly Luffy's influence on the menu selection.
'This is what I get for joining a pirate crew,' I thought resignedly. 'Mandatory group bonding activities.'
"To our new crewmate!" Luffy shouted, holding up what appeared to be a huge piece of meat as if it were a wine glass.
The others raised their drinks in response, and I found myself holding a mug of something that smelled strongly alcoholic despite my complete lack of memory regarding how it had gotten into my hand.
'When did I agree to this?' I wondered, but the expectant faces around me made it clear that resistance was futile.
"Kampai!" they chorused, and I found myself drinking despite my better judgment.
'One toast,' I told myself. 'I can handle one toast.'
But of course, it wasn't just one toast.
"Alright, for this celebration!" Soon after, Luffy declared again before I'd even adjusted to the first. "To adventure!"
'Two toasts. Yes, that's not bad.'
After a brief 15 minutes of stuffing as much meat and drinks as possible, I swear I could feel the drum of war beating in the background.
"To new friendships!" Usopp joined in, and everyone else followed like that, and I, of course, was forced to follow.
'Three. This should be enough, right?'
But oh, how naïve I was…
"To beautiful women!" Sanji added, somehow managing to make even a toast sound romantic.
'Four.'
"This is getting ridiculous," I protested, but my voice was drowned out by the arrival of more food and the appearance of Yosaku, Johnny, and Delgado, all of whom seemed delighted to join the celebration.
"Master!" Delgado greeted me with unusual enthusiasm. "Congratulations on joining the Straw Hats!"
'Even my employee is ganging up on me now.'
By the time Nami returned from the infirmary and joined what had apparently become toast number eight, I had lost count of how many times we'd raised our drinks.
The entire festival seemed to have merged with our "small" celebration, turning the whole thing into an even larger party than it had been before.
'How did this happen?' I wondered, looking around at the chaos. 'I came here to rest quietly, and somehow I've ended up at the center of the biggest party this island has ever seen.'
In the middle of all the noise and celebration, I managed to catch Luffy's attention long enough to ask a practical question.
"Hey, when do we sail?"
"Tomorrow!" he replied cheerfully, somehow managing to talk while consuming an entire roasted fish. "This is our last day on the island, so we have to celebrate properly!"
'Of course.' I should have expected that answer.
The noise and crowds were becoming overwhelming, but thanks to that, I was able to extract myself from the main celebration and found a quieter corner where I could give my introverted soul a chance to recharge.
The festival continued around me, but at least I could observe rather than participate directly.
'Much better,' I thought, settling onto a crate that gave me a good view of the proceedings. 'This is more my speed.'
I didn't get long to enjoy the peace before Nojiko appeared and settled beside me. Her presence was less overwhelming than the group celebration, but it still meant my quiet time was officially over.
"So," she said conversationally, "you really became a pirate."
"Well, yeah," I confirmed, seeing no point in denying the obvious.
"Just like that?"
"My next great voyage probably won't be appreciated by the World Government anyway," I said with a shrug. "Might as well make it official."
"Oh my, this conversation got serious fast." Nojiko laughed.
'Everything gets serious fast when you're talking about world-changing journeys and government opposition,' I thought. 'It's hard to keep things light under the circumstances.'
She was quiet for a moment, watching the celebration with the same observational distance I'd been using. Then she turned to me with an expression that was both serious and slightly amused.
"You're going to be on the same ship as my sister," she said. "Please take care of her."
'Why does everyone keep asking me to take care of their relatives?' The pattern was becoming disturbing. 'When did Hachiman 4.0 become someone people trust with their loved ones?'
"You shouldn't say things like that lightly to any guy," I warned her, though there was no heat in it. "Men tend to hear selectively and get the wrong message in situations like these."
'Especially when it comes to beautiful women asking favors about other beautiful women,' I added mentally.
Nojiko laughed again, but instead of backing down, she leaned closer with a playful expression that was remarkably similar to her sister's earlier behavior.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "I don't say those words to just anyone. Only the special ones."
'Damn! Why are the women in this family so bold?' The sudden proximity was making me extremely uncomfortable, and I moved away reflexively.
"I didn't expect the Sorcerer of the East Blue to have such a shy side," she observed with obvious amusement.
'Tsk! This woman…!'
"Everyone would be quite surprised to learn about such a promotion," I said, trying to regain some conversational ground. "From 'that bastard' to 'special one' is quite a jump in status."
The reference to how she and Nami had addressed me when we first met had the desired effect. Nojiko looked genuinely surprised that I'd remembered and thrown it back at her.
"You really can't let a woman have her fun, can you?" she said, though she was smiling.
'Fun is one thing,' I thought. 'But I draw the line at being flustered by attractive women who don't seem to understand the concept of personal space.'
Her expression became serious again. "But really, please take care of my sister. I know you'll have a lot on your plate."
'She has no idea how much,' I thought, remembering my private conversation with Luffy about flipping the world upside down.
"I'll do what I can," I said aloud. "But as you said, I'll have plenty to deal with."
"That's enough," Nojiko replied. "I know you're a responsible person."
'Can someone in this world give me a break?' I thought with exasperation. 'Between Luffy's expectations, Nami's emotional complexity, and everyone else's faith in my reliability, I'm starting to feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world.'
The next morning arrived with the kind of efficiency that only comes after several days of continuous celebration, followed by the inevitable crash.
The Straw Hat Pirates—including me now, apparently—were preparing to depart, and the practical necessities of leaving were creating their own kind of organized chaos.
I stood in one of the rice fields outside the village, looking at my small ship that had crash-landed here in what felt like a lifetime ago. The vessel had served me well for the better half of a year in the East Blue, but it was time to say goodbye to that chapter of my life.
'Everything changes,' I thought, placing my hand on the ship's hull. 'Even the things we think are permanent.'
I summoned my Stand and put part of the stern inside the Box, and the rest of the ship followed, making it look like it had disappeared.
The process was always slightly disorienting—watching something large simply cease to exist in the normal world—but it had become routine over the past two years.
"Is that it?" Delgado asked from beside me. He'd been unusually quiet this morning, probably processing the reality of our partnership coming to an end.
"Yes," I confirmed, turning away from the empty space where my ship had been. "I'll manifest it at the docks and leave it in your care."
'Along with everything else from my old life,' I added silently.
"I'm sorry for not giving you more warning about joining the Straw Hats," I continued as we began walking toward the docks.
"Dumping this news on you so suddenly wasn't fair."
"It's okay," Delgado replied, though his voice was subdued. "I've been preparing myself for this possibility ever since you decided to come to this island."
'That still doesn't make it fair, you know…'
"So, what's your next move?" I asked as we walked.
"For now, I'm going to make this island my base," he said, his voice becoming more confident as he talked about his plans. "Continue treasure hunting for a few more years, build up a good nest egg, then retire back to my home island and become a farmer like the rest of my family."
'A practical plan,' I approved. 'Much more sensible than following a rubber head into whatever chaos awaits in the Grand Line.'
I stopped walking and reached into my dimensional storage, pulling out a large sack that clinked heavily with the sound of coins and bills. Delgado's eyes widened as I held it out to him.
"This is your share from our partnership," I said. "Everything we've earned together over the past year."
"There's no need," he protested, though his eyes remained fixed on the money. "You've got a massive voyage ahead of you. You'll need every Berri you can get."
'He's not wrong,' I thought. 'But I've never been particularly worried about money, and he's about to start his life over.'
"You should know by now that I'm the last person who needs to worry about money," I said, pressing the sack into his hands. "And you're the one who's about to reestablish himself in a new place. You'll need this more than I will."
Delgado took the money hesitantly, his hands shaking slightly with the weight of it. "I…Thank you, Master."
'Master.' The title still felt as strange as ever.
"You…don't need to call me that anymore, you know," I said as we resumed walking. "I'm not your employer anymore, nor was I ever your teacher."
'Neither in treasure hunting nor "magic"' I thought. 'I couldn't give him Hamon or a Stand, no matter how much we tried.'
"It's not your fault I couldn't learn the magic," Delgado said, apparently reading my thoughts.
"It's mine. I was never talented for that anyway, and I've always known that. I'm not built for strength, and I've never been a match for the truly powerful sailors out there. I knew from the beginning that I wasn't suited for something like the Grand Line."
"You could always eat a Devil Fruit," I suggested. "That would level the playing field considerably."
"Too unreliable," he replied with a shake of his head. "Most Devil Fruit powers are too strange or specific to be useful for treasure hunting. And keeping my ability to swim is always a bonus in this line of work."
'A reasonable assessment,' I had to admit. 'Devil Fruits are powerful, but they're not always practical.'
"Besides," he continued, his voice taking on a note of pride, "I'm already satisfied with what I've accomplished. I sailed with the famous Hikigaya Hachiman, the Sorcerer of the East Blue. When I retire and have kids and grandchildren, I'll be able to tell them about all the amazing adventures we had together."
'Adventures.' The word sounded strange when applied to what had often felt like a desperate struggle for survival.
"The battle of South Wall Town against the Crimson-Tar Pirate Alliance," Delgado continued, his enthusiasm growing. "The epic treasure hunting war of Yarning Moon. The Siren Chase across the Lulwand region. The battle of Arlong Park. So many incredible experiences that most people never get to have."
'He remembers them differently than I do,' I realized.
"I always knew you were destined for greatness," he said with complete sincerity. "And I know that someday, the name of the Great Treasure Hunter Hikigaya Hachiman will be known throughout all the seas."
'Great Treasure Hunter Hikigaya Hachiman.' The title felt both familiar and foreign. It was who I'd become in this world, but it still didn't feel entirely like me.
"…Thank you," I said, not knowing how else to respond to such faith. "For your trust…and for putting up with me all this time."
We'd reached the docks by then, and I used my Stand to manifest the ship in an empty berth. The process drew gasps of awe from the gathered villagers, who were apparently still not used to seeing what they considered "magic".
'At least some things never change,' I thought with dark amusement. 'People will always be impressed by things they don't understand.'
I turned to Delgado and extended my hand for a final handshake. "This is goodbye, then."
He gripped my hand firmly, his expression bright with enthusiasm despite the sadness of parting. "Let's meet again someday!"
'Maybe we will,' I thought, though I doubted it. 'If I succeed in my real goal, I won't be staying in this world long enough for reunions.'
I walked away from my old ship and my old life, climbing aboard the Going Merry with steps that felt heavier than they should have.
The moment my feet touched the deck, I felt it again—that presence I'd sensed two years ago, the awareness of something beyond the physical ship itself.
[Welcome Back!]
The voice was clearer this time, more distinct.
Usopp, who was standing nearby checking some rigging, looked over at me curiously.
"Eh? Did you say something, Hachiman?" he asked.
"No, I didn't," I replied, though in my mind I responded to the voice.
'I'm back.'
'So, it still remembers me,' I thought. 'Even if I still don't understand exactly what it is.'
Most of what I know about it is from the Manga, and some of the sailors' lore about the Klabautermann legend.
'I will explore it slowly later.'
I stood on the deck, looking out at the villagers who had gathered to see us off.
The scene was oddly moving in its simple humanity - people who had suffered for years now standing free, waving goodbye to the strange collection of misfits who had helped make their freedom possible.
'This is what victory looks like,' I thought. 'Not the dramatic moment of triumph, but the quiet next morning, when people say goodbye and get on with the business of living.'
"Where's Nami?" Usopp wondered aloud, scanning the crowd. "We're ready to go, and it's time to sail."
"Maybe she's not coming," Roronoa suggested with characteristic bluntness.
This observation sent Sanji into immediate panic. "What?! Nami-san is not coming?! No way, I would lose 99.87% of my reason to be here..." He devolved into the kind of lovesick rambling that made me question his fitness for pirate life.
'One day,' I thought, 'his obsession with women is going to get us all killed.'
"SET SAIL!!"
A few moments later, we heard Nami's voice cutting through the crowd noise.
'There she is,' I thought, watching as she began pushing through the assembled villagers with the kind of determined urgency that suggested she was running from something.
"What should we do?" Usopp asked, looking to Luffy for guidance.
"She said set sail, so… I guess we should set sail." Luffy declared with his usual decisive simplicity.
'Wait,' I thought, an idea forming in my mind. 'I want to try something.'
"Hold on," I said, drawing everyone's attention. "Let me try something first."
They looked at me with various expressions of curiosity and confusion as I unsheathed the Barbossa Sword, pointing the blade skyward and focusing on its ship-controlling power.
'It has been a long time since I used this, let's see what this can do with a ship that has its own spirit.'
WHOOSH!
The ship responded immediately and dramatically to my will. The anchor raised itself with mechanical precision, the sails unfurled in perfect synchronization, and the rudder moved as if guided by invisible hands.
The Going Merry began moving forward smoothly, responding to my slightest mental command like an extension of my own body.
"What the hell?!" Usopp shouted, his eyes wide as he watched the ship operate itself.
"WHOA!" Luffy's excited shout echoed across the deck. "Hachiman, that's so cool! How are you doing that?!"
"The sword..." Sanji muttered, staring at the blade in my hand as if he was witnessing a miracle.
"So this is its power, huh?" Zoro asked, his hand instinctively moving to his own swords.
"AMAAAAAZING!!!!" Luffy bounced excitedly. "The ship's listening to you! It's like magic!"
'Magic. If only he knew how accurate that assessment really is.'
I tried to project calm indifference while internally marveling at how smoothly the ship was responding.
'This is incredible,' I thought, amazed by how smoothly the ship was following my commands. 'I barely need to focus, and it's reacting to my slightest intention.'
More than that, I could swear I felt a sense of joy from the presence watching me, it is as if you have an overenergized puppy—or in this case a lamb—and you suddenly let it free.
'This must be the benefit of the ship having its own spirit,' I realized. 'It's not just responding to the sword's power - it's actively cooperating.'
As we sailed away from the dock, Nami finally reached the edge of the pier and leaped toward our moving ship!
Unfortunately, because we were moving faster than expected, thanks to my sword control, her jump fell short.
She managed to catch the back rail with her hands, but all the money she'd apparently stolen while running through the crowd of villagers fell into the sea with a series of splash sounds.
"KYAAA!! HELP ME UP!!!" she screamed, dangling from the back of the ship like a very loud, very expensive pendulum.
The situation immediately became comical in the way that only real life could manage.
"Oi! You brat!"
"Come back here!"
"This is dangerous!"
The villagers on the dock were split between concern for Nami's safety and outrage at her apparent final theft.
"Did she just...?" Usopp asked, staring at the money floating in the water.
"Steal from the people she was saying goodbye to?" I finished. "Yes. Yes, she did."
"That woman…" Roronoa didn't know what to say.
Those of us on the ship were caught between helping her up and letting her fall as punishment for her last-minute larceny.
"Bufuhahahahah!!!"
"NAMI-SWAN!!! I WILL SAVE YOU!!!"
'Well,' I thought, watching Luffy laugh himself senseless while Sanji rushed to play the gallant rescuer, 'at least some things never change.'
'And after fifteen minutes aboard this ship,' I thought with growing concern, 'I'm already wondering if I chose the right crew to join.'
The money continued to float away on the tide, a small fortune scattered across the waves like the sea's most expensive confetti.
"You Thieving Cat!!"
"Give it back, you brat!!"
"Take care of yourself!!"
"Come back anytime you want!!"
The villagers were shouting - some in anger, some in amusement, some in genuine concern for Nami's precarious position.
'This is my life now,' I realized with the kind of resigned acceptance usually reserved for terminal diagnoses. 'This chaotic, ridiculous, emotionally exhausting adventure is going to be my life now.'
…
A/N: Alright, the part of Arlong Park is over now.
Thank you all for reading!! Hope you enjoyed this one!
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