Ha Shiro returned to where Nami and Robin sat waiting and placed the beautifully prepared breakfast in front of them.
"Ha Shiro, stop it," Nami muttered, half distressed. His sudden surge of enthusiasm was… suspicious. She had only changed clothes—how had that caused such a drastic shift?
But it wasn't Ha Shiro's fault.Who could resist temptation like that?
And Ha Shiro certainly couldn't control the wandering hand that kept misbehaving beneath the table.
"Ha Shiro. Remove it."Robin didn't indulge him for even a second; she simply seized his hand and forced it away.
Caught, he could only withdraw and continue eating like nothing had happened.
Breakfast had barely ended when a sudden disturbance split the sky.
"Nami, Robin—watch out!"
A pirate ship came crashing down from above, plummeting toward the sea.Instinctively, Ha Shiro pulled both women into his arms, shielding them with his body.
"Is this the start of the Sky Island arc already…?"He stared at the ruined vessel floating nearby. Yes—this was the prelude to Skypiea.
"Sugoiii!"Luffy took off running immediately, ready to loot whatever remained.
The shattered hull should have sunk instantly, yet they managed to salvage a coffin and a few damaged items.
"It's very likely the ship fell from a sky island," Robin said calmly. Her voice carried the confidence of someone widely read and deeply knowledgeable. She crouched to examine the white skeleton with methodical precision.
"There must be treasure up there! Let's go on a deep-sea expedition!"Luffy declared with sparkling eyes, already dragging Sanji and Zoro toward the water.
Usopp's practical skills kicked in instantly; he assembled a rough submersible device in minutes.
"Huh? Pirates?"A gorilla-emblazoned ship appeared on the horizon. Judging from their equipment, they were professional salvagers.
Before they could attempt anything, their entire ship was swallowed whole by a massive sea turtle.
"Sea King? Damn, that thing's huge."Ha Shiro clicked his tongue. The ocean truly was a dangerous place. If that turtle decided to take one bite out of the Going Merry, they would be finished.
And then—the sky darkened.
Ha Shiro looked upward. Heavy clouds swept across the horizon, blotting out the sun. A massive shadow passed overhead, startling the giant turtle into retreat.
"A refraction phenomenon…?"He began analyzing instantly, but before he could finish, the ship lurched. His footing shifted abruptly as the Merry shot forward with insane momentum.
"Sure enough—the pressure forced us out," he said with a wry smile, watching the crew row in a panic.
"Nami," Robin said, handing her something, "this is the directional pointer to the next island. I grabbed it earlier from that group of pirates."
"So that's why they bonded so quickly," Ha Shiro thought, stepping back with an amused sigh. "Shared interests."
Nami gazed into the distance. "The next destination is Jaya Island… We should find clues about the sky island there."
Ha Shiro wasn't nearly as optimistic.Jaya was full of chaos—and Blackbeard was waiting there.
That man was not someone to take lightly.
Before long, Jaya came into view.
"I wonder if I can harvest a big wave of experience this time."Ha Shiro smiled to himself. He wasn't too worried about the crew; he was more interested in testing the waters. If he could land a blow on Blackbeard… who knew what kind of reward that might yield?
With that in mind, Ha Shiro joined Nami, Luffy, and Zoro as they headed onto the island.
"You two better not cause trouble," Nami said, leaning closer to Ha Shiro while glaring meaningfully at Luffy and Zoro. "We're here to find information about the sky island. Understand?"
"Got it."They both nodded… unconvincingly.
Along the way, Ha Shiro spotted members of the Blackbeard Pirates. They posed no threat to him, so he ignored them entirely.
Soon, the four arrived at a tavern and sat down.
Naturally, Luffy plopped down right next to Blackbeard.
"Perfect. Let's see what I can get out of him…"Ha Shiro walked over casually.
"Hey, old man. With that dusty look of yours, how about enjoying a professional haircut?" Ha Shiro asked with a friendly grin.
"Haircut?"Blackbeard blinked at him, clearly uninterested.
"A trim that matches your temperament," Ha Shiro clarified.
"Hair needs… care?"Blackbeard looked genuinely confused.
"Just try it. Give me thirty seconds."Ha Shiro whipped out his scissors and went to work, giving Blackbeard's beard a surprisingly neat trim.
"Well? Satisfied?"
Blackbeard didn't look much different, but he nodded in approval and invited Ha Shiro for a drink.
[Stamina +3999 — Hair Resistance Increased]
"Heh… good, good. But that should be the last time. Next time, I'm shaving him bald."Ha Shiro watched him leave with mild amusement.
"Ha Shiro, your occupational disease is showing again," Nami said, unfazed. She had grown used to it by now. "You just can't help yourself."
"Alright, we're done here," he said, still in high spirits, and pulled Nami toward the exit.
But just then—the tavern door slammed open.
Bellamy swaggered in.
Ha Shiro already disliked the guy. Zero strength, enormous ego. A poser.
Unfortunately, the next events were unavoidable.
Without warning, Bellamy pinned Luffy to the floor.Nami tried to stand up, preparing to fight, but instead asked the tavern owner about the sky island.
That question was like a spark to gunpowder.The entire tavern erupted in laughter and mockery.
"Ha Shiro, Zoro, don't fight back," Luffy said quietly, still on the ground.
If someone mocked your dreams… you didn't waste time on them. You simply pursued your dream and kept going. Anyone who sailed the seas without dreams could never become a true pirate.
"These two idiots… so boring," Ha Shiro sighed.He didn't plan to stoop to Bellamy's level. He pulled Nami behind him instead, shielding her.
"It's fine if you say not to fight back—but Nami is my responsibility."He placed his cloak over her shoulders and used his own body as a shield as objects were hurled at them.
"Ha Shiro… why? Are we really wrong?"Nami leaned into him, angry and hurt.
"People without dreams aren't worth arguing with," he murmured. "My goal has always been to protect you. Even if I die, I won't turn back."
Nami's breath hitched."Ha Shiro… thank you."She pressed herself happily into his chest.
"Throw them all out!"Bellamy snapped his fingers. His subordinates grabbed Luffy and Zoro and tossed them outside. Then they approached Ha Shiro.
"Are you seeking death?"Ha Shiro didn't move.He simply looked at them.
That was enough.
His hair exploded outward like a living creature, growing wildly, twisting through the room. Within seconds, the entire tavern was wrapped in a terrifying canopy of black strands.
Ha Shiro wasn't like Luffy. His beliefs were different.Anyone who threatened him—or his precious "experience points"—would be crushed without mercy.
"Ha Shiro, it's enough. Let's just go back," Nami said softly, placing a hand on his chest to steady him.
"Hmph."With a cold snort, Ha Shiro released them, gathered Nami and Zoro, and walked toward the exit. The crowd shrank back in fear.
"Stop right there!"Bellamy lunged.