Luffy had always been utterly confident; it was just these last two days of pushing past his limits that kept shifting his thresholds.
Chewing through an entire book filled him with accomplishment—and most importantly, it meant he'd won the bet.
Nami's heart was a mess.
Was it real?
It didn't look like an act.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, Nami asked a few questions. Luffy answered fluently.
He really wasn't faking.
Nami felt the sky fall.
"Hey, it was easy. You could do it too." Luffy waved her off, grinning smugly.
Clenching her fists and fighting the urge to smash that grin, Nami set the pot down with a bang and forced a smile. "Fine. You win."
"So I won the bet!"
"Let me say this first: I've got no money. I've only got my life!" Nami ground her teeth.
No one was prying the money already in her pocket back out.
"Eh? Then what about my ten million Berries?"
"T-then… I'll give you one more request. One request from me is worth more than ten million," Nami said, a bit guilty.
"Then… fine… Let me sleep first."
As he spoke, Luffy inhaled the stew and rice like a storm, squinted—and was out.
[ Tip: Rest period has begun. ]
Without realizing it, it was already midnight.
Another day.
"Let you sleep?" Nami's voice sharpened as she folded her arms. She knew Luffy had bad intentions.
Snore…
Snore…
Hearing Luffy start to snore, Nami looked down and realized he was already asleep.
He really just wanted a nap?
Her face ran through a palette of expressions. So she'd misunderstood?
Wait—why are you sleeping in my room?
Get up!
That said, Nami still made a pallet on her floor and dumped him onto it.
…
At dawn the next day,
Zoro sat cross-legged atop the crow's nest, brow knit in meditation.
The morning sea breeze was salty and cool—supposed to be refreshing. He, however, felt off.
Because it was too quiet.
Not the waves, but the lack of racket from a certain rubber idiot on deck.
After two mornings of getting used to Luffy training at daybreak, the sudden silence put the hard-grinding Zoro on edge.
So the guy only lasted two days?
He muttered, still pumping a heavy dumbbell. That would be normal. The last two days, Luffy had acted like he didn't want to live.
Come to think of it, Luffy hadn't returned to the bunk he shared with Usopp last night. Could it be—
Zoro's gaze slid, against his will, to the navigator's closed door.
Tch. Women really are beasts.
Just then, a tiny green dot sharpened on the horizon in the corner of his eye.
He rubbed his eyes hard and peered. A hull with a distinctive fish-shaped profile came into view.
"Hey! Down there!"
Zoro leaned out and bellowed to the deck, "Wake up! Ship ahead—Baratie, the sea restaurant!"
His shout roused everyone.
The hatch slammed open; Usopp burst out excitedly, with Johnny and Yosaku, rudely awakened, on his heels.
"Time to feast for real."
"Finally—let's hurry up and find a cook."
Their hollering knifed through the peaceful morning.
"What's with the noise!"
"Do you want people to sleep or not!"
Two groggy, irritated voices rang out almost at once.
Nami's door flew open. Hair a bird's nest, she rubbed her eyes and stepped out.
That was nothing.
But Luffy also shuffled out, rubbing his eyes and yawning, looking just as dazed.
Their clothes were fine, but the synchronized, sleepy motions screamed they'd just woken from the same private space.
"Oooh—"
"Sorry, Nami-nee!"
Nami snapped awake.
Catching the unsaid I-get-it looks on their faces, her cheeks flared red.
"Hold on—what's with those faces!"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"This idiot just passed out in my room."
The more she explained, the worse it sounded.
Luffy looked perfectly at ease.
[ Tip: A Pirate King cannot stand alone. Strong crewmates are essential. Today, the first half is Crew Day. Recruit crewmates. ]
Luffy stretched wide; joints crackled. Beaming with the joy of rebirth, he ignored the weird mood around him.
He'd actually woken at one.
Body clock habits are scary.
He'd seen the new prompt and fallen asleep again within three seconds.
He loved Crew Day.
Usopp, barely holding back laughter, sidled up to Luffy as he happily rolled his neck, then waved a hand at his nose. "Hey, hey—do you smell a bit ripe?"
[ Good presentation is key to recruiting crewmates. Wash up immediately. Tasks assigned based on current condition. Countdown: five minutes. ]
"I'm taking a bath first!" Luffy muttered "trouble," and his body moved before his brain. Whoosh—he shot for the washroom.
Everyone: "…"
Freshly washed and full of pep, Luffy bounced back onto deck.
Zoro had Usopp and Johnny adjusting the sails, lining up their approach to Baratie.
Just then, Usopp pointed, yelling at the massive shape floating near the restaurant. "What's that?!"
They all looked.
A wreck far larger than a normal sea vessel lay half-sunk, the ship torn clean in two, the gaping holes and rips screaming of catastrophic force.
"Don Krieg Pirates' flagship!"
Johnny, an East Blue–born bounty hunter, recognized the emblem at once. "The biggest pirate crew in the East Blue! Fifty ships, five thousand men—how did it end up like this?"
"How does a ship that big sink?"
"Not cannon fire. Those edges look like a single cut."
"Don't be ridiculous. Who could sever a ship like that with one stroke—you think it's made of paper?!"
Usopp waved him off.
As they reeled at the Krieg flagship's remains, a Marine warship flying the seagull flag came into view, heading straight for Baratie.
On its deck stood a burly Marine officer with a face full of impatience.
"Hm? Krieg remnants? They pick now to ruin my meal?"
"Iron Fist" Fullbody, a Headquarters lieutenant, scowled at the oncoming Merry. "I booked Baratie. Don't even think about crashing it."
He barked orders to his men.
"Roll out my cannon!"