No one shook her awake; Silk's eyes simply fluttered open on their own.
The room was bathed in soft light. Morning had crept in unnoticed. The white sheets lay tangled, and as Silk stirred with a rustle, Nami, who had been sleeping in the same room, glanced over.
They were in a room at the town's inn. Each had retired to separate quarters for the night, now greeting the dawn together.
Nami, already awake, stood by the window. Bathed in the sunlight streaming through, she seemed to glow, her beauty somehow amplified in the morning's gentle embrace. She was fully dressed, her preparations complete, and when she turned to see Silk's bleary eyes, she let out a soft chuckle. There was something delicate about Nami's smile, a shift in her usual demeanor that felt almost otherworldly.
"Morning, Silk. You're quite the messy sleeper, aren't you?" Nami teased.
"Mmm… morning, Nami," Silk mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
As she slowly sat up, Silk's unguarded expression made her seem younger, softer than usual. The sight warmed Nami's heart, coaxing a gentle smile to her lips. The shadow that had clouded Nami's face the previous day was gone. Perhaps the chaos of last night's revelry had burned away her stress.
The previous night had been wild. Luffy had led the charge, turning the evening into a boisterous festival, roping in townsfolk and filling the air with countless smiles. Nami's laughter from that night lingered vividly in Silk's memory. When they'd seen her wanted poster, Silk had worried about the flicker of unease in Nami's eyes, but now, seeing her at ease, Silk felt a wave of relief. Her fears had been unfounded.
Silk's own smile bloomed as her senses sharpened. If the night's chaos had let Nami unwind, that was enough.
Nami, still by the window, clasped her hands and stretched, squinting into the sunlight. "Mmm, nice weather. Sleeping on land really does feel different from the ship, doesn't it?"
"You seem in a great mood, Nami," Silk observed.
"Well, yeah. It's been a wild ride, but the treasure's piling up, and sailing with you all hasn't been a total waste. Tough, though," Nami said with a grin.
"Getting a taste for the pirate life?" Silk asked, half-joking.
"No way. That's a whole different story," Nami shot back, her laughter shaking her shoulders.
Silk felt a quiet relief at Nami's ease. It was a good morning. Amid their hectic days, these simple moments felt precious. The weight of yesterday's worries had lifted, if only for now. When their eyes met again, Silk savored the calm, fleeting peace.
"Let's grab breakfast," Nami suggested. "We're probably leaving this island today, so we'd better eat while we can."
"Oh, hold on! I'll get ready quick," Silk said, scrambling out of bed.
Silk, who had been lounging, hurriedly dressed, brushed her teeth, and tamed her tousled hair. The traces of her sleepy self vanished one by one. In no time, she was her usual self, and the two left the room side by side.
Leaving her sword behind—danger seemed distant for now—Silk followed Nami downstairs to the inn's dining area. The remnants of last night's banquet had been swept away, leaving the space pristine. There, they spotted three familiar figures at a table: Luffy, Yosaku, and Johnny, already digging into breakfast.
"Oi, Nami, Silk! Over here!" Luffy called, waving enthusiastically.
The two exchanged a wry glance before heading over. They settled into empty seats next to Luffy. Across from them, Johnny called for the innkeeper, who promptly disappeared into the kitchen after taking their order—without consulting Nami or Silk. Nami rolled her eyes, but Silk just smiled, unbothered.
As soon as they sat, Luffy, brimming with energy, grinned and launched into conversation. "I just heard something awesome from these guys. There's a restaurant out on the sea!"
"A restaurant on the sea?" Silk echoed, tilting her head.
"You mean the Baratie, the floating restaurant?" Nami murmured.
Luffy's eyes lit up, surprised. "You knew about it? They say it's got top-notch cooks making delicious food. Let's go there! We'll eat and find a cook for our crew!"
"A cook, huh… we haven't really thought about that," Silk mused, nodding.
Luffy's excitement was infectious, and Silk agreed readily. Up until now, she and Kiri had handled the cooking, managing well enough with their resourcefulness. But they weren't professionals. Nutrition wasn't something they could fully account for, and Kiri had grumbled about it during meal prep. A proper cook was overdue.
The Baratie, a famed restaurant in the East Blue, was known for its exceptional food and affordable prices. Rumors also spoke of its rough-and-tumble cooks and waiters who fled from their tempers. Some even said the staff could fend off pirates single-handedly.
It sounded like an intriguing destination. A place to find a skilled cook for their pirate crew? Silk was all in, nodding with a smile. Nami, however, seemed disinterested, sipping her water with a detached air.
"Yeah, let's find one. A cook's definitely gonna be essential," Silk said.
"Great idea, right? I want someone who can make meat and oden!" Luffy declared.
"You really loved that oden, huh? A top-tier cook could probably whip it up," Silk teased.
"I'm so pumped! Yosaku and Johnny are gonna guide us there," Luffy said.
"Leave it to us!" Yosaku chimed in.
"We've been sailing these seas for a while, so we know exactly where it is," Johnny added, both flashing thumbs-ups and proud grins.
It seemed the plan was set. Luffy was thrilled, but Silk noticed Kiri's absence. Usually, the vice-captain would be at Luffy's side, scheming and strategizing. Where was he? Others were missing too, so Nami, who had been quiet, spoke up.
"That's all fine, but where's Kiri? This is important, and he's not here."
"Oh, Kiri's probably still out cold from last night's drinking," Yosaku said.
"Yeah, he was going toe-to-toe with Zoro. That guy's a monster with booze," Johnny added.
"Was he? I didn't know Kiri was such a lightweight," Silk said, turning to Nami.
They'd talked about their abilities before, including Kiri's unique physiology. "Kiri's actually pretty strong with alcohol," Silk explained. "But, you know, his paper body makes hydration tricky. It's like when he gets wet—he can't handle too much liquid inside him either."
"Oh, that makes sense… Devil Fruit users are such a hassle. You're probably the least troublesome, Silk," Nami said.
"Mine's still pretty weird, though. The changes are subtle," Silk replied.
"Still better than stretching or losing strength when wet. But not being able to drink water properly? That's a dealbreaker for normal life," Nami pointed out.
"Yeah. That's why Kiri's so laid-back sometimes," Silk said.
"That's the reason?" Nami raised an eyebrow.
"That's what he says," Silk grinned.
"No way that's the only reason. With that personality, he's just lazy for the sake of it," Nami huffed.
Silk laughed, shrugging. She couldn't argue—Kiri's nature was undeniable. But it warmed her to see Nami understood him just as well. Despite her sharp words, their bond was clearly growing.
"What about Usopp? And Coby and the others?" Silk asked.
"They got chummy. Usopp went shopping, and they're helping out," Luffy said.
"Hm. And you're just chilling here eating," Nami remarked.
"We've been eating for, like, an hour already," Johnny admitted.
"What kind of appetite is that? You were stuffing your face at the banquet too!" Yosaku gaped.
Luffy kept eating, unfazed, his pace outstripping Nami and Silk, who were just starting. To the crew, this was normal. Without much reaction, Nami and Silk began their light breakfast, settling into the calm morning.
It was a serene scene, a rare moment of peace.
As they chatted about the Baratie, Kiri appeared from the stairs, yawning with a sleepy expression, looking more relaxed than usual. Luffy spotted him and waved him over with a grin. Kiri shuffled to the table, his steps unsteady.
"Morning, everyone. You all look lively," Kiri said.
"Yeah, we ate tons and slept like logs. But listen, I heard something cool!" Luffy said.
"Cool, huh? Sounds promising," Kiri replied.
"There's a floating restaurant called the Baratie. We're gonna find a cook there, then head to the Grand Line!" Luffy announced, looking up at Kiri, who was still standing.
It was time. The Grand Line, their ultimate goal, was drawing closer. Kiri agreed—the crew had grown steadily with a fighter, a sniper, and a navigator. A cook with nutritional expertise was the final piece for their long journey.
The time had come.
Luffy's face brimmed with adventure, and Kiri gave a lazy grin, nodding. No objections. The plan was set.
"Sounds good. Baratie first, then the Grand Line," Kiri agreed.
"Shishishi! It's gonna be fun!" Luffy laughed.
"By the way, what's the Baratie?" Kiri asked.
"You agreed without knowing?" Nami groaned.
"Haha, Kiri's not exactly an East Blue expert," Silk said with a wry smile.
Nami's exasperation and Silk's chuckle marked the light moment, but the plan was solidified. Then, Silk glanced at Nami, noticing a subtle shift in her expression—something unspoken lingered.
"Hey, Kiri, wanna eat? We're still in the middle, so join us," Silk offered.
"Sure, maybe just coffee," Kiri said.
"You'll lose your strength if you drink too much, right? Lay off," Nami warned.
"It's fine, just a little," Kiri brushed off.
Silk's attempt to lighten the mood worked, and Nami's guarded look faded. No one else seemed to notice, but Silk had caught it—a hint of something hidden. It stung, but she held her tongue for now.
As Kiri moved to sit, Usopp burst through the door, his entrance frantic. His wild expression and stumbling run screamed urgency as he raced to them.
"Big trouble! The Navy's here, Luffy! Your grandpa's here!" Usopp shouted.
"What?! Gramps?!" Luffy yelped.
"Coby and the others confirmed it—it's definitely him!" Usopp insisted.
The air shifted instantly. Kiri's sleepy demeanor vanished, replaced by a steely focus. Nami and Silk tensed, and Luffy's eyes widened in shock. Yosaku and Johnny, confused but sensing the gravity, realized something bad was unfolding.
Luffy slammed the table and stood. There was no time to dawdle. Panic was inevitable.
"Kiri, what do we do?! Gramps is here!" Luffy cried.
"Usopp, how close is he?" Kiri asked.
"He's practically here! They were closing in while we were shopping. Just get outside, quick!" Usopp urged.
Usopp bolted, and the others followed. Yosaku and Johnny, still catching up, trailed behind as they spilled out of the inn.
The town, carved into a mountainside, was a maze of slopes. From their vantage point halfway up, the sea stretched out below. A single warship approached, its dog-shaped figurehead unmistakable—Vice Admiral Garp's ship. It would reach the island in ten minutes. Escape was impossible at this distance. Kiri gritted his teeth.
"That's Gramps' ship," Luffy muttered.
"Damn it, how'd he find us? We're far from the last island, and Coby said they didn't tip him off. No way the townsfolk ratted either," Usopp said.
"If he found us by gut instinct, that's the worst-case scenario. He's Luffy's family, so it's possible," Kiri said grimly.
"By gut?! That's insane!" Usopp groaned.
Tension gripped them. They'd heard the stories—Garp, the Navy hero who clashed with Gold Roger himself, was a force even Kiri and Zoro couldn't match. And he was coming for Luffy. Fear was unavoidable.
Luffy turned to Kiri, his face deadly serious. "I'm not becoming a Marine. I'm gonna be the Pirate King."
It was a plea for a plan. Kiri closed his eyes, thinking fast.
Their foe was Garp, a living legend who'd faced Roger and survived. Half-hearted resolve wouldn't cut it—Kiri knew this from past encounters. Victory didn't mean defeating Garp; Luffy didn't want that. They needed to escape, to outmaneuver him and leave the island.
Kiri's mind raced, colder and sharper than ever. Seconds later, he opened his eyes and turned to his crew.
They had two new assets: Yosaku and Johnny, bounty hunters with untested skill but proven grit. Kiri spoke with weight. "Where's Coby and the others?"
"Taking supplies to the ship. I came to warn you," Usopp said.
"Good. Yosaku, wake Zoro. Smack him if he complains," Kiri ordered.
"Got it!" Yosaku said, sprinting off.
"Johnny, any maps of this island? We need accurate paths," Kiri said.
"On it! I'll ask the innkeeper!" Johnny replied, dashing back inside.
Kiri faced the sea again. Usopp, frantic, called out, "Oi, when Zoro's here, we bolt for the Merry, right? We might still—"
"Too late. There's no escaping now," Kiri cut in.
"Then what?!" Usopp demanded.
"We face them here, in this town," Kiri said.
Usopp's eyes bulged. "Are you insane?! You said you can't beat him!"
"It's not about beating him. Victory isn't always about knocking out the enemy. Here, it's about all of us getting off this island alive. That means fighting smart, not head-on," Kiri explained.
"What's the plan?" Silk asked.
Kiri nodded, meeting their gazes. "This town's full of slopes and narrow paths. Their numbers won't help them—they'll hinder them. With the right strategy, we can turn their strength against them. We're not fighting to win; we're fighting to escape."
"Escape, got it," Usopp said, voice shaky.
"But first, we keep them away from the port. If they sink the Merry, we're done," Kiri said.
"The Merry's parked right there in plain sight!" Usopp yelped.
"Let's hope Garp's not too thorough. If it comes to it, I'll step in," Kiri said.
Relying on the enemy's oversight felt grim, but the gap in strength was undeniable. Still, they had to act. If Kiri couldn't get them through this, he had no business chasing the Pirate King's dream alongside Luffy.
"With Yosaku and Johnny, and once Zoro's here, we'll assign roles. The goal is escape, not combat. If we pull that off, we win," Kiri said.
"Got it. I'm not losing, even to Gramps!" Luffy declared.
Silk noticed Nami's expression shift again—anguish, pain, a depth of turmoil she couldn't fathom. It worried her, but she bit her lip and stayed silent.
The warship drew closer, its ominous presence undeniable. The air itself seemed to shift, heavy with foreboding, as the crew braced for what was to come.
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