Morning sunlight spilled across the deck of the Going Merry. Seagulls circled above, waves gently rocked the ship, and Luffy was already yelling about breakfast.
Kai groaned, rubbing his eyes as he checked his stream stats.
[Stream: OFFLINE]
[Offline Views: +1.4M]
[Tip Revenue: +2.6M Berries]
[System Bonus: +5% to Reflex Speed (Temporary)]
He smirked. "Guess the chat loved the princess reveal."
Nami leaned on the railing beside him. "Of course they did. You were flirting the entire time."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "I was being polite."
"You were leaning in like you were auditioning for a romance novel," she shot back.
Kai grinned. "Jealous?"
Nami's cheeks tinted faintly pink before she smacked him lightly on the arm. "Keep dreaming, streamer boy."
[System: Nami Affection +2]
Kai smiled. "Worth it."
Vivi was at the front of the ship with Luffy and Usopp, explaining Alabasta's geography using a small map.
"The island is mostly desert," she said. "The capital, Alubarna, is where my father—"
Luffy interrupted, mouth full of meat. "We'll just beat up this Crocodile guy and fix everything!"
Usopp nodded confidently. "Yeah! Easy!"
Kai sighed. "Famous last words."
Zoro, polishing his swords, added dryly, "We'll see who's still confident when we're dying of heatstroke."
[Chat Simulation (Private Mode): "Luffy logic = punch the sand until it obeys 💀" / "Kai roasting Luffy again 😂"]
Later that day, the weather shifted — clouds rolled in, rain poured hard, and the sea turned rough.
Nami shouted over the wind, "The Grand Line's current is unstable! Everyone, secure the sails!"
Kai ran to help, water splashing against his face. The storm was sudden, chaotic — lightning splitting the sky in blinding flashes.
"System!" he shouted, "Any ideas!?"
[Temporary Quest: "Survive the Sudden Storm." Reward: Random Skill Upgrade.]
"Of course," Kai muttered. "It's never easy."
As the crew fought the storm, Vivi slipped — her hand missing the railing.
"Kai!" she screamed.
Without thinking, he lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close as a wave crashed over them.
They tumbled together across the deck, soaked, breathless, but safe.
She looked up, blue eyes wide. "You… saved me."
Kai smirked. "Wouldn't be good for ratings if the princess drowned, would it?"
She laughed despite herself. "You really never stop joking, do you?"
"Part of my charm," he said.
[System: Vivi Affection +4]
[Hidden Bonus: "Courage Highlight" — Clip automatically uploaded to public feed.]
[Views: +3.1M in 5 minutes.]
Hours later, the storm cleared. The crew sat exhausted but alive, basking under the returning sun.
Luffy stretched. "That was awesome!"
Nami glared. "That was not awesome!"
Usopp groaned. "I saw my life flash before my eyes!"
Kai leaned back, towel around his neck. "At least we didn't sink. That's a win in my book."
Zoro grinned. "You're adapting."
Kai smiled faintly. "I have to. My audience demands entertainment."
[System Notification: Skill Upgrade — "Momentum Burst Lv3 → Lv4"]
[New Feature: "Adrenaline Sync" — Boosts power slightly when saving a crewmate.]
He stared at the glowing text. "Okay, that's actually useful."
That evening, as the sun sank into the horizon, Kai started a quiet stream.
[Stream: LIVE — "After the Storm"]
[Viewers: 9.7M]
The camera snail captured the soft orange sky, the calm waves, and the crew laughing together on deck.
Kai's voice was low, relaxed.
"Storms, assassins, and princesses. Not bad for the first few days on the Grand Line, huh?"
[Chat: "This vibe is perfect 😭" / "Streamer arc is peak comfort" / "Kai x Vivi tension is real tho 👀"]
Kai smiled faintly, glancing at the others. "You know… I think I'm actually starting to like this crazy world."
He turned off the stream, the faint glow of sunset reflecting in his eyes.
The adventure was only getting started.
[End of Chapter 20 — "Sailing Toward Trouble."]