The morning air smelled like gunpowder.
Kai woke up to the sound of cannon fire and Luffy laughing like it was a party.
He jumped to his feet and ran outside. The whole street was shaking, buildings torn apart, smoke rising over the rooftops. Buggy's pirates were everywhere, firing small cannons from the rooftops just to make noise.
Luffy stood in the middle of the street, stretching his arms like he was warming up for a game. "This is awesome!"
Kai groaned. "He's actually enjoying this."
Nami was already there too, crouched behind a wall with her orange hair tied up. She was glaring at the chaos like she was trying to figure out how much everything was worth.
"You idiots woke up the entire crew," she hissed.
"Technically, they woke us up," Kai said.
She gave him a look. "You're just as bad as them."
He smirked. "Maybe. But at least I'm honest about it."
A cannonball hit the street nearby and exploded, throwing dust everywhere. Kai dove behind cover and heard his snail camera beep inside his jacket.
[Stream started automatically.]
[Viewers: 60,000]
He sighed quietly. "Guess the show's live again."
Luffy was already charging at the pirates, shouting something about "meat and maps." Zoro followed behind him with his swords out, calm as ever.
Kai stayed near Nami, helping her drag a crate of stolen treasure out of the way before it caught fire.
She glanced at him. "You don't really act like a pirate."
"I'm not one," he said. "I just hang out with them for content."
She frowned. "For what?"
"Never mind," he said quickly.
Then the clown himself showed up.
Buggy the Clown walked down the street like he owned it, juggling knives and laughing like a madman. His face paint gleamed in the sunlight, and his red nose looked even more ridiculous in person.
"So you're the little pests ruining my show," Buggy said.
Luffy smiled. "You look funny."
Buggy twitched. "I am funny, idiot!"
Kai leaned toward Nami and whispered, "You sure you don't want to run?"
"I'd rather fight than let him keep that treasure," she whispered back.
Kai smiled. "You really are dangerous."
The fight broke out fast. Buggy's body parts flew everywhere — literally. His hands and feet zipped through the air, grabbing swords and throwing them like toys. Luffy kept punching them away while laughing.
Zoro slashed at the floating limbs like he was cutting paper.
Kai used whatever he could find — bottles, broomsticks, even a frying pan. He wasn't strong, but he was fast, and every move he made earned a quiet ping from the system.
[+1 viewer follower]
[+1 tip: 100 berries]
[Ability unlocked: Quick Reflex Lv1]
He grinned. "Not bad."
Buggy's floating hand grabbed Nami's ankle and dragged her down. She yelped, kicking it away. Kai rushed over, swinging a plank of wood and knocking the hand into the dirt.
"Gotcha!"
She blinked up at him, breathing fast. "Nice hit."
He offered her a hand. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, taking it. Her hand was warm, soft for someone who fought pirates.
Before either of them could say anything else, Luffy shouted from across the street. "Gum-Gum Bazooka!"
Buggy went flying through a tent and crashed into a pile of barrels. The silence afterward was almost funny.
Luffy dusted his hands. "That was easy."
Kai laughed quietly. "You're insane."
By the time the sun set, the town was safe again — or as safe as it could be after being half-destroyed.
Nami was counting her treasure while pretending not to smile. Luffy was eating. Zoro was sleeping again.
Kai sat nearby, watching the sunset. His snail camera rested beside him, recording silently.
He didn't say it out loud, but he was starting to feel something he hadn't in a long time — like he actually belonged somewhere.
Nami walked over, holding a small pouch of coins. She tossed it to him. "Your share."
He caught it. "Didn't think pirates shared."
She shrugged. "You helped."
He smiled. "Thanks."
She gave him a quick look, half curious, half amused. "Don't die, okay? You seem useful."
"Wasn't planning on it," he said.
She walked away, and he leaned back against the wall, listening to the sound of waves and laughter in the distance.
The snail blinked once. Another quiet ping.
[Viewers: 120,000]
[Tips: 42,000 berries]
[New reward unlocked: Stealth Mode (Hide presence for 30 seconds)]
Kai smiled faintly. "Guess the stream's doing fine."
He looked up at the night sky. Stars everywhere.
"Yeah," he whispered. "This might actually be fun."