**Chapter 12: A Day Painted Orange (With Extra Heart, Humor, and Divine Tantrums)**
**MC POV (Sunny)**
The morning sun spilled over Cocoyasi Village like a bucket of liquid gold, painting the horizon in warm, vibrant orange. The air carried the sweet tang of tangerine groves, mingling with the salty breeze from the ocean. Birds chattered in the palm trees, their songs weaving a melody so cheerful it felt like the island itself was celebrating. For once, there was no sense of looming danger—no fish-men lurking, no cosmic trolls like RBG cackling in my head. Just a perfect, almost-too-good-to-be-true morning that made my chest ache with something unfamiliar: peace.
I cracked an eye open, still half-tangled in dreams of punching Sea Kings, only to realize I wasn't alone in my futon. Aqua had somehow wriggled her way right beside me in her sleep, her arms wrapped around my torso like I was her personal teddy bear. Her cheek was smushed against my collarbone, her blue hair spilling across my chest like a waterfall, and one leg was draped over my waist in a way that was *way* too cozy for a goddess who claimed to be "above mortal nonsense." She was murmuring softly, "Mmm… Sunny pillow… so warm…" with a smug little smile that said she was loving every second of this.
{Ego}: "Correction: Host remains too gullible. Allowing a so-called goddess to use you as a plush toy during unconscious hours = pathetic. Probability of dignity recovery: 9%."
[System]: "Note: Master Sunny looks exceptionally peaceful while asleep. Drool level: Minimal, but charming. Underwear color confirmed: Blue with tiny clouds, adding a whimsical touch to your divine aesthetic. Recommendation: Allow me to design a custom sleepwear line to enhance your cuteness."
I groaned, my face heating up. "Why the hell do you even notice that detail? Are you spying on me 24/7 now?"
[System]: "Because details matter, Master. Every facet of your existence is a masterpiece to be cataloged. Unlike that lazy pseudo-ego over there, I live for your glory."
{Ego}: "Correction: System's obsession = borderline pathological. Host, recommend immediate firewall installation."
I sighed, carefully prying Aqua's arms off me before she woke up and turned this into a full-blown morning disaster. Her grip was like iron, and I had to use a touch of Armament Haki to loosen her hold without waking her. Success—she rolled over, muttering about "divine cuddles," and I slipped out of the futon, tiptoeing across the creaky floorboards of Belle-mère's cozy home.
Then it hit me like a Sea King to the face: Today was Nami's 10th birthday.
---
**Aqua POV (With Maximum Divine Drama)**
I yawned, stretching dramatically like a goddess emerging from a celestial slumber, only to realize my Sunny-shaped pillow was gone. Panic surged through me for a split second—where was my mortal?!—until I spotted him pacing outside the window, his brow furrowed in that adorable, serious way he got when he was overthinking. The morning sun caught his messy hair, turning it into a halo of gold, and for a moment, I forgot how to blink.
*Focus, Aqua!* I scolded myself, shaking my head. A goddess doesn't swoon over mortals, even stupidly cute ones like Sunny. I hopped out of bed, my skirt swishing with divine flair, and sauntered over to him, hands on hips. "What's with the serious face so early, Sunny? Don't tell me you're planning more training. Today's special, remember?"
He raised an eyebrow, looking annoyingly handsome even when confused. "You mean?"
I smirked, tossing my hair like I was starring in a shampoo commercial. "Obviously! It's Nami's birthday! We have to give her a goddess-level celebration, something so spectacular she'll worship me forever!"
{Ego}: "Correction: 'Goddess-level celebration' = poorly wrapped garbage with glitter. Probability of impressing anyone: 2%."
[System]: "Proposal: Master Sunny should consider a practical yet sentimental gift. Options include: A treasure chest filled with gold, a property deed to the island, or a small archipelago for her future empire."
Sunny groaned, rubbing his temples. "You're both useless. Can you at least try to think like normal people for once?"
"Useless?!" I gasped, puffing out my cheeks and striking a dramatic pose. "I'll show you useless when I give Nami the most divine gift ever! She'll be singing praises to Aqua-sama by sundown, while you're stuck with your boring mortal ideas!"
Sunny muttered under his breath, "That's what I'm worried about…"
---
**MC POV**
The day moved fast, like the island itself was buzzing with excitement for Nami's birthday. Belle-mère was a whirlwind of energy, stringing up handmade ornaments—colorful paper stars and shells painted with tangerine designs—across their small, sunlit home. Nojiko darted around, setting up tables with mismatched cloths and arranging wildflowers in jars. Villagers dropped by with contributions: baskets of fresh fish, crates of juicy tangerines, bottles of homemade mango juice, even a slightly lopsided cake from the baker who swore it was "rustic, not crooked." It wasn't a grand celebration, but it had heart—raw, messy, beautiful heart that made my chest tighten.
When Nami finally ran in from the groves, wearing a simple dress Belle-mère had sewn from soft yellow fabric with tangerine patterns, her smile was blinding. Her orange hair bounced as she skidded to a stop, her eyes sparkling with pure, unfiltered joy. For once, she wasn't the cunning "orphan girl dreaming of maps" or the future navigator plotting her escape. She was just a kid, surrounded by love, her laughter filling the house like music.
Protecting this—her, Nojiko, Belle-mère, this whole village—was worth every punch I'd thrown, every drop of blood I'd spilled to stop Arlong. My hidden smile, the dark one only {Ego} and [System] knew about, stayed buried. Today wasn't about that. Today was about her.
---
**The Gift Rivalry**
Of course, Aqua had to ruin the calm atmosphere with her usual chaos. When it was time for presents, she strutted forward like she was announcing the Second Coming of the Goddess of Water. She carried a wooden box, decorated with sloppy blue marker swirls and a bow that looked like it had been tied by a drunk seagull. Inside? Seashells. Handpicked, polished, and arranged in a pattern she probably thought was artistic but looked more like a toddler's craft project.
"Behold!" Aqua declared, thrusting the box toward Nami with a flourish. "A rare, priceless gift straight from the divine! Seashells blessed by Aqua-sama herself, imbued with my holy essence to bring luck and prosperity!"
The room went silent. Villagers blinked. Belle-mère coughed into her fist, trying not to laugh. Nojiko failed miserably, her giggles echoing as she hid behind a table. Nami tilted her head, staring at the shells like they might sprout legs and dance. "…They're just seashells."
Aqua's jaw dropped, her divine ego visibly cracking. "Not *just* seashells! Goddess-certified seashells! Each one hand-selected by me, polished to perfection, and infused with my sacred power! You should be weeping with gratitude, Orange-chan!"
Nami forced a nervous smile, clearly trying not to offend the "goddess" who'd been terrorizing her for months. "Wow… thanks, Aqua… I'll, uh, treasure them?"
Aqua preened, tossing her hair. "See, Sunny? Perfect goddess gift! Beat that!"
I sighed, stepping forward and pulling a small leather pouch from my pocket. The crowd leaned in, curious. I scratched the back of my head, feeling oddly shy under all those eyes. "I don't do speeches," I said, my voice gruff. "But… this is for you, Nami. One million Berries, so you can chase your dream of drawing maps without worrying about money. And this—" I pulled out a tiny slip of paper, carefully cut from my Vivre Card, and handed it to her. "This is a piece of me. Wherever I am, you'll know. And I'll always be able to find you too."
Nami's eyes widened, her small hands trembling as she took the pouch and the paper slip. The Berries were heavy, but it was the Vivre Card that made her breath hitch. "S-Sunny… this is… too much…" Her cheeks flushed red, her voice barely a whisper as she bit her lip, clutching the gifts like they were lifelines.
Then, in a burst of emotion, she yanked out a piece of her own Vivre Card, cutting it clumsily with a pocketknife and shoving it into my hand. "Then… take this too! My Vivre Card! So we're even!" Her face was tomato-red, her eyes darting away in embarrassment.
The villagers "ooooh'd" like they were watching a soap opera. Nojiko smirked, nudging Belle-mère, who muttered, "Kids these days…" with a grin. Aqua, though? Her eyes turned into blue flames, her divine aura flaring like a volcano about to erupt.
"EXCUSE ME?!" she screeched, pointing an accusing finger at Nami. "WHAT IS THIS SCENE?! Why does the orange-haired brat get to exchange soul-bonding paper slips with MY Sunny?! This is treason! Betrayal! A divine outrage!"
Belle-mère facepalmed, her cigarette nearly falling. "Ah, young love… or whatever this mess is."
{Ego}: "Observation: Goddess's jealousy = catastrophic. Probability of public meltdown: 88%. Recommendation: Host, prepare for collateral damage."
[System]: "Master, this exchange is unacceptable! Your bond should be with me, not this… this tangerine thief! I propose we burn her Vivre Card immediately!"
I ignored them, clutching Nami's Vivre Card, its faint warmth pulsing in my hand. It felt like a promise, a tether to this moment, this family.
---
**The Hug**
Later that evening, after a chaotic cake-cutting where Aqua "accidentally" smeared frosting on Nami's face (prompting a tangerine-throwing retaliation), I stepped outside to catch my breath. The stars glittered above, the ocean whispering softly. Nami found me by the tangerine grove, her yellow dress glowing faintly in the moonlight. She fiddled with her hem, glancing everywhere but at me, her cheeks still pink.
"Sunny…" she started, her voice small. "Thanks. For everything. The Berries, the Vivre Card… I've never had anyone give me something like this before. It's… it means a lot."
Before I could respond, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around me in a quick, desperate hug. Her hair smelled faintly of tangerines, her small frame trembling but her grip firm, like she was afraid I'd vanish. "You're… really special," she whispered, her voice muffled against my shoulder.
My mind blanked, my heart thudding. For a split second, the world was just her warmth, her scent, her quiet strength.
Then the door slammed open with a *BANG*.
"AAAAAAAAA—WHAT IS THIS?!" Aqua shrieked, her voice shattering the night. She stormed over, grabbing my arm and yanking me back like I was a kid caught stealing cookies. "HANDS OFF, ORANGE THIEF! This is MY Sunny! You can't just hug him on MY watch!"
Nami pulled back, puffing her cheeks and glaring. "Jealous much, old lady?"
"OLD LADY?!" Aqua screeched, her staff glowing with divine fury. "I'M A TIMELESS GODDESS, YOU TANGERINE GREMLIN!"
Belle-mère and Nojiko, watching from the porch, nearly fell over laughing. "Let 'em fight it out," Belle-mère said, lighting a new cigarette. "Builds character."
Nojiko grinned, whispering, "I give it five minutes before they're throwing fruit again."
I sighed, caught between Aqua's death grip and Nami's defiant pout, both Vivre Cards still warm in my hand. "Why is my life a rom-com written by a sadist?"
{Ego}: "Correction: Rom-com = inaccurate. This is a tragicomedy with a 76% chance of escalating into a food fight."
[System]: "Master, their rivalry is a distraction! Focus on your destiny. I propose we relocate to a new island, free of goddesses and orange-haired schemers."
---
**The Quiet After**
That night, after the chaos settled and the village slept, I caught sight of Nami by her bedroom window, clutching her Vivre Card to her chest. Her smile was soft, genuine, brighter than the stars above—a smile that carried no schemes, no pain, just a kid's pure joy. It hit me harder than any punch I'd thrown, warmer than any Haki I'd mastered.
Maybe, just maybe, this was what family was supposed to feel like. Not just fighting monsters or breaking timelines, but these moments—messy, loud, filled with laughter and love.
I slipped into my futon, Aqua already snoring beside me, her arm flung across my chest again. For the first time in a long time, I slept without a single worry, the Vivre Cards' warmth lingering in my hand, tethering me to Nami, to Cocoyasi, to this fragile, beautiful peace.
{Ego}: "Observation: Host's emotional state = dangerously sentimental. Recommendation: Brace for inevitable chaos."
[System]: "Master's heart is radiant. I will protect this moment in my archives, alongside your glorious victories."
I smiled, closing my eyes. Let the chaos come. For now, I had this.