Aiqi looked doubtful at Rogers's words and asked, "But Rogers-oniisan, aren't you a really strong pirate? How could you possibly not even make it into the Grand Line?"
Rogers almost wanted to slap himself across the face. His expression was full of despair. Where on earth did this little fangirl come from? What made her think I was strong? Even I don't know what I'm good at…
Seeing Rogers so deflated, Aiqi quickly added, "It's okay! Even if Rogers-oniisan isn't strong, I'm strong enough!"
Rogers, who had muttered something under his breath, was met with her puzzled look as she asked again, "What did you just say?"
Keeping a straight face, Rogers replied, "You said you're strong—so tell me, what exactly are you strong at?"
Aiqi puffed up with pride. "I'm a navigator! A really good one! Grandpa John always praises my talent!"
The moment Rogers heard her, he leapt up in excitement. "Navigator? You're a navigator?"
In his eyes, the most important role on a pirate ship was the navigator. Next came cook, doctor, and shipwright. Those four positions were essential—everything else was secondary. So hearing Aiqi claim she was a navigator filled him with joy.
Aiqi was startled by the burning look in his eyes and stammered, "Y-Yes… I've been learning navigation from Grandpa John this whole time! And I'm really strong in a fight too!"
She even waved her tiny fist at him for emphasis, though it wasn't convincing in the slightest.
Rogers eyed her skeptically. "Is that old man John really reliable?"
He completely ignored her claim about being good at fighting, assuming she was just joking. Come on, a soft and squishy girl like her being strong in a fight? If that were true, what use would a weakling like me even be?
Aiqi puffed her cheeks in anger. "Idiot Rogers-oniisan! How rude! Grandpa John's navigation skills are incredible! Haven't you noticed this passenger ship has never once run into a big storm?"
Scratching his head, Rogers thought back over the past month. It was true—the ship hadn't faced any rough seas. Aside from several pirate attacks, it had been perfectly safe.
And honestly, Rogers really did need a navigator. Left to his own devices, he'd never even reach the next island. The body's original owner had drowned at sea for exactly that reason. Rogers wasn't about to risk the same fate. Still… his situation right now was complicated.
Seeing him hesitate, Aiqi leaned closer, eyes sparkling. "Well? What do you think, Rogers-oniisan? Having a beautiful navigator like me isn't bad, right? Hehehe!"
Rogers sighed, his expression growing somber as he asked quietly, "If you boarded my ship… would you really have faith in me? Do you truly believe that someone like me could… become Pirate King?"
His voice trembled with self-doubt. The personality of a small, ordinary man shone through. He had no confidence at all. Yet inside, he wrestled with guilt. He already carried the burden of the body's original owner's dream—should he really take on someone else's dream as well?
But Aiqi simply gave him a dazzling smile. Pushing her glasses up to make herself look even more serious, she said firmly and calmly, "Confidence isn't something others give you. When Roger first set sail, nobody believed in him either. History is made by people. Dreams will never lose to fate!"
Rogers was stunned. The usually ditzy girl had actually said something like that?
Still half in disbelief, he muttered irritably, "I just don't have much confidence in myself. My situation is… complicated. Ugh, such a pain…"
But Aiqi only looked even more pleased, as though she had expected his answer. With an easy grace, she added, "It doesn't matter. I have plenty of confidence in you! Rogers-oniisan, if it's you, I know you can do it!"
Rogers's eyes slowly lit up. If someone believed in him—if someone answered his lack of confidence with their own faith—then he had no excuse to remain lost. Pirate King? His body's dream? If it had to be done, then he would do it all.
Aiqi pressed on, striking while the iron was hot. "Rogers-oniisan, you'll protect me, won't you? And I'll definitely help you achieve your dream too!"
Rogers's gaze burned hotter and hotter. His body's original owner had been a hot-blooded man—and now, Rogers felt his own blood begin to boil. Dreams? His dream had already been decided, hadn't it?
He reached out and ruffled Aiqi's mushroom-shaped hair, sighing with emotion. "To think I'd be the one getting cheered up by you. Hahaha. As long as I'm alive, I'll never let you come to harm—my partner!"
Looking at her, he felt an odd sense of peace. His confidence was set. Even Luffy had lost faith in himself after Marineford, crying and questioning his dream of becoming Pirate King. And it was only his friends who helped him regain it.
He would stick to the path he chose. There was only one destination—Raftel! He didn't care what the original story had planned. Since he had come here, the world would just have to watch as he gave them a magnificent performance!
The whole world!
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T/N:
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