**Chapter 15: Flying Fists, Floating Boats, and a Lecture for the Ages**
**POV: Sunny**
The Cocoyasi Village market was a chaotic symphony of smells—salty fish left too long in the sun, sweaty merchants haggling over prices, and the sweet tang of tangerines wafting from nearby groves. I weaved through the crowded stalls, my arms weighed down by Aqua's vice-like grip on one side and Nami's insistent tugs on my shirt every time she spotted something shiny. Nojiko trailed behind, pretending she wasn't interested in the sparkling hair ornaments but slowing down to sneak glances when she thought no one was watching. Honestly, it was a miracle we hadn't been pickpocketed yet, with Aqua loudly proclaiming her "divine presence" and Nami eyeing every vendor like a future con artist planning her big score.
Then I saw it, tied neatly at the dock: a medium-sized boat, its polished wooden hull gleaming under the midday sun like it was begging for an adventure. Not too big, not too small—just right for a little chaos. My lips curled into a grin.
"Perfect," I said out loud, already imagining the possibilities.
Nami, clutching a shiny shell necklace she'd been admiring, blinked up at me. "Perfect for what?"
I smirked, feeling a spark of mischief. "For us. For today."
Aqua gasped so dramatically I thought she'd faint, her hands flying to her cheeks like I'd just proposed marriage to the entire ocean. "You're finally taking me sailing?! Oh, Sunny, I *knew* my divine prayers would be answered! The Goddess of Water demands a voyage worthy of my glory!"
I ignored her, mostly, though her enthusiasm was hard to tune out. Nami's eyes lit up with that dangerous glint she got when treasure—or adventure—was involved. Nojiko raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but curious. I could already tell this was going to be a disaster, but the fun kind.
{Ego}: "Correction: Host's decision to involve three unpredictable females in a maritime escapade = reckless. Probability of disaster: 87%."
[System]: "Master Sunny, this is a bold move! I calculate a 92% chance of creating unforgettable memories, though 64% of those may involve screaming. Also, your current attire—blue shirt, slightly wrinkled—is suboptimal for captaining. Shall I suggest a nautical-themed outfit?"
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "No outfits, [System]. And stop calculating my chaos levels."
---
**Permission… Kind Of**
Convincing Belle-mère to let us borrow the boat was like trying to negotiate with a Sea King while holding a toothpick. She stood in her kitchen, arms crossed, cigarette dangling from her lips, giving me that terrifying "mom glare" she'd perfected over years of raising two mischievous girls. The air smelled of tangerine stew and smoke, and her purple hair glinted in the sunlight streaming through the window.
"You want to *what*?" she asked, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Borrow a boat," I said, flashing my most innocent smile. "Just for the afternoon. We'll be back by dinner. I'll protect everyone, promise."
Aqua nodded furiously, her blue hair bouncing like a tidal wave. "Yes, yes, with me and Sunny here, nothing could possibly go wrong! I'll bless the boat with my divine protection!"
Belle-mère's eyebrow arched so high it nearly touched the ceiling. "The last time you said 'nothing could go wrong,' Aqua-chan, you flooded my backyard trying to 'summon divine water.' I'm still finding fish in my garden."
Aqua puffed out her cheeks, clutching her driftwood staff. "That was an accident! A *holy* accident! My powers were just too radiant for your mortal pipes!"
Nami clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling like a pile of Berries. "Please, Belle-mère? Just this once? We'll stay close, I swear!" She batted her eyelashes, pulling out her best puppy-dog face, which I knew from experience was dangerously effective.
Nojiko, ever the calm one, chimed in smoothly, "We're with Sunny. He's responsible. Mostly." Her lips twitched, betraying a grin.
Belle-mère groaned, muttering something about "kids these days" and "needing a vacation." She took a long drag on her cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke that seemed to carry her exasperation. Finally, she waved her hand like she was shooing away a fly. "Fine. Go. But don't push your luck. How far could you possibly get, anyway?"
I grinned, a spark of mischief igniting in my chest. *Oh, Belle-mère, if only you knew.*
{Ego}: "Observation: Host's grin suggests impending chaos. Probability of Belle-mère regretting this decision: 94%."
[System]: "Master, I recommend equipping the boat with emergency flotation devices. Also, your heart rate is elevated—excitement detected! Shall I analyze your emotional state further?"
"No," I muttered, already heading for the dock. "Just… behave, both of you."
---
**Lift-Off**
Once we were aboard the boat—a sturdy little vessel with a single sail and just enough room for the four of us—I felt the thrill of adventure buzzing in my veins. Nami was already inspecting the rigging, muttering about wind patterns like a mini-navigator. Nojiko leaned against the railing, looking calm but secretly excited. Aqua, predictably, was posing at the bow, her skirt fluttering like she was starring in a pirate movie. "Onward, my loyal crew!" she declared, pointing her staff at the horizon. "To glory and divine treasures!"
I rolled my eyes, stretching my arm and coating my fist in Armament Haki until it gleamed like polished obsidian. "Hold on tight," I said, grinning. "This isn't your average boat ride."
Nami frowned. "What do you mean, hold on—"
*BOOM!*
I slammed my fist into the sea, the Haki-infused punch sending a shockwave through the water. The boat rocketed into the air like a cannonball, the hull creaking as we soared over the waves. Aqua screamed like a banshee, clutching my arm so tightly I thought she'd snap it off, her skirt flapping wildly in the wind.
"SUUUNNYY! THIS ISN'T SAILING, THIS IS SUICIDE!" she wailed, her hair whipping across her face as she clung to me like a shipwrecked sailor.
Nojiko gripped the railing, her eyes wide but sparkling with laughter. "Are we… flying?! We're actually *flying*! This is insane!"
Nami, standing at the bow, didn't scream. Her orange hair streamed behind her, her arms spread wide like she was embracing the sky itself. Her eyes shone brighter than the sun reflecting off the sea, and her voice was a whisper, barely audible over the wind. "This is freedom… This is… amazing."
Aqua, still clinging to me, shot her a glare. "You're enjoying this too much! Sunny's my partner in insanity, not yours!"
Nami spun around, hands on hips. "Your partner? He's everyone's captain now! Deal with it, goddess!"
I pinched the bridge of my nose, the boat wobbling slightly as we arced through the air. "Girls, please. We're 500 feet up, and gravity's watching. Can we not argue mid-flight?"
{Ego}: "Correction: Host's leadership skills = questionable. Probability of mid-air mutiny: 62%."
[System]: "Master, your aerial maneuver is flawless! Wind resistance: Optimal. Crew morale: 78%, though Aqua's whining reduces it by 12%. Recommendation: Deploy emergency snacks to pacify the goddess."
---
**The Training Island**
By some miracle—and my frankly impeccable aim—we didn't crash into the ocean but landed with a soft thud on a familiar stretch of sand. The island where Aqua and I had trained for months stretched before us, its jungle buzzing with life, oversized crabs scuttling along the shore, and a sparkling lagoon reflecting the sky like a mirror. Nami and Nojiko leapt off the boat, squealing with excitement as they ran to explore, fascinated by the massive shells and glowing fish darting in the water.
Aqua stayed glued to my side, her eyes darting nervously toward the jungle. "Don't let them wander too far, Sunny," she whispered, gripping my hand. "This place still gives me crab-trauma. Those things were *huge* last time!"
I smirked, patting her head. "Relax. I cleared out the big ones months ago. You're safe."
She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "You're not funny. If one of those pincers comes near me, I'm using you as a shield."
Despite her grumbling, she didn't let go of my hand, her fingers squeezing mine tightly as we followed the girls. While Nami and Nojiko collected shells and chased tiny crabs, I practiced extending my Observation Haki, feeling the island's pulse—every rustling leaf, every scuttling creature. Aqua pretended not to be impressed, but I caught her sneaking glances when she thought I wasn't looking, her cheeks faintly pink.
"Show-off," she muttered, tossing a pebble into the lagoon.
"Says the goddess who tried to 'bless' the ocean and ended up soaking us both," I teased, dodging her playful swat.
Nami ran back, her arms full of shells, her face lit up with a grin. "Sunny, look at these! They're perfect for my collection!" She held up a spiral shell that shimmered like a pearl, her excitement infectious.
Nojiko, trailing behind, smirked. "Careful, Nami. Keep gushing, and Aqua's gonna get jealous again."
Aqua huffed, crossing her arms. "Jealous? Of *her*? Please, I'm a goddess. I don't compete with tangerine gremlins."
Nami stuck out her tongue, and I sighed, sensing another bickering match brewing. "Let's just enjoy the island, okay? No fights."
{Ego}: "Correction: No fights = impossible. Probability of peace lasting more than ten minutes: 3%."
---
**Return and Regret**
By sunset, we were back on the boat, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. I launched us gently this time, using Haki to glide the boat across the waves like a skimming stone, the motion smooth and serene. Nami sat at the bow, clutching her bag of shells to her chest, her smile soft and content. "This was the best day ever," she whispered, her voice almost lost in the wind.
Nojiko leaned against the railing, her blue hair fluttering. "You're not half bad at this captain thing, Sunny."
Aqua, still holding my hand, grumbled, "He's *my* captain, thank you very much."
I chuckled, but my heart felt warm, like the sun had settled in my chest. For a moment, everything was perfect.
Then we reached Cocoyasi's shore, and Belle-mère was waiting. Arms crossed. Foot tapping. Eyes blazing with a storm that could sink a fleet. We were so dead.
"Sunny," she said, her voice so calm it was terrifying, "do you want to explain why half the village saw a BOAT FLYING through the sky like a drunk seagull?"
I opened my mouth, closed it, and tried again, my innocent smile faltering. "Uh… we were being efficient?"
Aqua nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Sunny's Haki-powered launch was a divine masterpiece! You should be proud!"
Belle-mère's glare shifted to her, and Aqua shrank back. "You," she said, pointing, "are even dumber for encouraging him." She turned back to me, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea how reckless that was? You could've crashed into a reef! Or a Sea King! Or the moon, for all I know!"
Nami and Nojiko wisely stayed quiet, though I caught them snickering behind their hands. Belle-mère's lecture lasted three hours, a relentless barrage of "kids these days" and "no sense of responsibility." At one point, she compared me to "a hyperactive Garp with the brain of a jellyfish," which I'm pretty sure was an insult, but I was too tired to argue.
Finally, she laid down the law: "No more insane adventures until you're at least fifteen, Sunny. You hear me? Fifteen. Until then, you're grounded to the sea like every other normal child."
I groaned, slumping against the wall. "Four years? That's torture."
Aqua patted my head, her grin sly and teasing. "Don't worry, Sunny. I'll keep you entertained~." The way she winked made my face heat up, and I swatted her hand away.
Nami crossed her arms, muttering under her breath, "Over my dead body."
Nojiko laughed, nudging her sister. "Careful, Nami. You're gonna start another war."
Belle-mère sighed, lighting a new cigarette. "I need a vacation."
---
**Closing**
That night, lying in my futon, I couldn't help but smile. The adventure had been short, reckless, and probably stupid, but it was ours. Nami's sparkling eyes, Nojiko's quiet excitement, even Aqua's dramatic screams—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle clicking together. And despite Belle-mère's lecture, I caught the tiniest smile at the corner of her mouth as she sent us to bed. She knew we were a family now, chaos and all.
I clutched the Vivre Cards—Nami's and mine—feeling their faint warmth. The day had been messy, loud, and perfect. Let the future bring whatever it wanted. For now, I had this.
{Ego}: "Observation: Host's sentimentality = alarming. Probability of future reckless adventures: 99%."
[System]: "Master, your leadership today was flawless. I've archived this day as 'Operation Flying Boat: Success.' Recommendation: Plan next adventure with 15% less screaming."
I chuckled, closing my eyes. "Deal."