"Hey, what's with this heavy snow? It was just raining a moment ago."
"Just as Mr. Crocus said, the weather in the Grand Line really is bizarre."
"Yeah, yeah."
Having bid farewell to Crocus and Laboon, they had officially entered the Grand Line.
The Going Merry sailed across a stretch of sea.
On the deck.
"Laboon is one thing, but shouldn't you explain about Vivi first?"
Nami's expression was blank. "You just let a strange woman on board?"
"Miss Nami!" Sanji was a hundred percent in favor of Vivi joining. But as soon as he spoke, Nami whacked him away with her Clima-Tact. "It's already noon! Cook, go make lunch!"
"Yes ma'am..."
That's right. Usopp's specially crafted weapon for Nami, the Clima-Tact, was finished.
Taking one look at the situation ahead, Usopp silently went to sit beside Zoro.
"Zoro, what do you think?"
"Mr. Crocus said that woman, Vivi, was a whale hunter. She doesn't seem like a good person."
"Ah, but the Captain's already made his decision, so she's a nakama now, right? ...Anyway, Luffy's taste is like that. Did you think that cook looked like a good person?"
Usopp thought about it carefully. Damn, Zoro had a point!
Zoro yawned, watching the scene ahead.
"Compared to that, I'm more concerned about when Luffy will settle this... It's time for training."
"...What kind of demon are you?" Usopp muttered.
But looking at Nami in front of him now, it seemed like demon horns were sprouting from her forehead.
...
"Anyway, since we've reached a new sea, we need new nakama, new adventures!" Luffy braced himself, mustering his authority as Captain!
As the Captain, Nami wouldn't find anything Luffy did too strange. Even recruiting a skeleton crew member in the future would be normal.
Finding nakama? Whatever, it wasn't unacceptable.
But no matter how you looked at it, Vivi didn't seem willing to be on board. She hadn't said a word since earlier.
"My name is Nami. I'm the navigator of this ship." Nami extended her hand towards Vivi. "If our idiot Captain did anything strange to you, please forgive him. His brain short-circuits from time to time, and he does things like that."
Are you saying he often spanks you too?
What kind of people are on this pirate ship?!
Luffy was displeased. "Nami, what kind of stereotype is that?"
"I know. But before that, could I borrow the Captain for a moment?"
Vivi shook Nami's hand, offering a sweet smile.
After what happened with Laboon, her opinion of Luffy had indeed changed somewhat.
How to put it? It was far from her image of what a pirate should be.
But vengeance was a dish best served cold!
My butt is something you can just spank whenever you feel like it?
When she showered, she would gently touch her perfectly shaped, proud bottom with satisfaction. But thanks to Luffy, it felt like twisted dough, hurting with every slight movement.
Borrow him?
Luffy sensed a conspiracy.
"If you don't mind, could you tell me about it?"
Nami crossed her arms, her eyes sweeping over the smiling Vivi before turning cold as a blade, pinning Luffy in place.
Oh no.
Luffy keenly sensed the atmosphere turning sour.
Kenbunshoku Haki was quite handy in this regard.
"I need someone to pay for my... injuries." Vivi's smile didn't reach her eyes.
In her mind, this sentence should have hinted at the truth to Nami. But from Nami's perspective, Luffy's medical skills had inexplicably improved drastically, making him the ship's de facto doctor.
"Alright, do you need my help?"
"No need. I'll have Merry assist me!"
Seeing an opportunity, Luffy immediately seized the opening.
Vivi's intentions were truly malicious, trying to drive a wedge between him and Nami right off the bat!
Although he had a vague sense that the so-called 'nakama' relationship was undergoing some subtle changes... it couldn't be, right?
Anyway, Nami absolutely must not find out about this.
His intelligent side took over his brain at this moment.
[Automatically adjusting schedule based on current physical condition. Nakama Daytime has ended. Please commence daily training immediately... Countdown: Thirty seconds.]
[Warning. Punishment countdown...]
[Adjusting based on the subject's current state. Necessary knowledge is essential for becoming the Pirate King. This aids in better Devil Fruit ability development.]
[Random learning module selected... Learn with Vivi. Please execute immediately.]
Huh?
This was the first time Luffy received such a strange task. Just... study with Vivi? No other conditions?
Was it because of Nika?
A jumble of thoughts crowded his mind, but only an instant had passed in reality.
"Let's go."
Vivi was about to say something when she saw Luffy grab her wrist.
This wasn't how she imagined things going! And taking steps to walk made the sore "petals" on both sides sway, which was painful. Vivi stood stiff as a post.
"What's wrong?"
What do you mean by 'what's wrong'?
"It hurts!" Vivi's eyes were nearly tearing up.
So troublesome.
The countdown had already started. Nami was right there, so he couldn't just tuck Vivi under his arm and run like before.
"Fine."
Vivi was stunned. Then she watched as Luffy pulled her left arm around to the other side of his body.
Her body instinctively leaned into him.
Pain could numb the brain, clogging one's thoughts. Her body was desperate to find a place to rest, to let her bottom relax without tension.
Luffy's movements also paused for a moment.
As they pressed close, the sensation of softness immediately transmitted from every point of contact.
Thanks to Nami's... "tutelage," Luffy was no longer the clueless youth he once was. He wasn't completely unaffected by this.
Vivi's figure was on par with Nami's. Pressed together like this, Luffy almost felt like he was holding another Nami.
Though she was wearing one of Nami's white winter sweaters, Luffy could still feel Vivi's curves. Compared to Nami's softness... hers had a bit more springiness and firmness.
Her scent was different too—not Nami's light, fresh fragrance, but a rich, milky aroma, as if her skin had been bathed in milk since childhood.
Smelling his strong, masculine scent, Vivi found her steps faltering.
What is this guy doing?!
"Hey, did something happen between you two before?"
Nami was interrogating them.
"Huh? With Merry there, what could possibly happen?" Luffy's intelligent side once again took the high ground.
"Yeah, yeah." Merry hesitated for a moment but decided to stick with Luffy to the end.
"You two... whatever."
Nami couldn't quite handle the wide-eyed, innocent looks Luffy and Merry were giving her.
Finally got past her.
Luffy secretly sighed in relief, then gave Vivi a slight smile. In Vivi's eyes, however, this smile didn't seem very friendly.
It was like a big, bad wolf luring a little white rabbit into a dark cave. Who knew what would happen next?
***
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