From a young age, the dance partners Vivi practiced with in the palace were either court dancers or etiquette tutors. When had she ever been this close to a member of the opposite sex?
She could clearly feel the heat radiating from Luffy's body and the firm lines of his muscles. Unconsciously, two faint blushes spread across her cheeks.
A melodious tune filled the air.
It was a soft hum from Vivi's lips.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes intense, sometimes gentle. Luffy gradually fell into step with Vivi. Her inner astonishment was immense. He had been a complete novice just hours ago, while she had practiced since childhood.
But gradually, her heart settled. Looking up, she saw the focused expression on Luffy's face.
Perhaps to break the somewhat ambiguous silence.
Perhaps because Vivi truly wanted to know.
"Luffy."
Vivi quietly asked the question that had been buried in her heart for a long time. "Why are you willing to challenge a powerful enemy like Crocodile for someone like me, whom you haven't even known for very long?"
"Because what he's doing is hateful."
Luffy had his own system of right and wrong.
Like is like. Hate is hate.
"And the most important reason is because you're our nakama. When nakama are in trouble, helping is just what you do, right?"
Luffy continued calmly, "If I said I'd punch his lights out, then I'll definitely punch his lights out!"
Simple, direct words, yet more powerful than any flowery oath.
A warm current and an indescribable sense of security washed over her.
Safety. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time.
This feeling was intoxicating.
She gently rested her forehead against Luffy's chest.
He... is doing this for me, right?
This somewhat absurd thought involuntarily surfaced in Vivi's mind.
Just then, Sanji walked over with the prepared breakfast.
The sight before him instantly petrified him, the tray in his hands nearly slipping.
"Again?! It's happening again?!"
He fell to his knees, wailing internally.
"Ms. Nami! Ms. Nami, come look at this two-timing—no, multi-timing—rubber bastard of a captain!"
At that moment, prompted by Robin, Nami walked over.
Seeing a savior, Sanji clenched his fists, shouting internally, Yes! That's right! Ms. Nami, punch him! This guy who's got his feet in... wait, more than two boats, this bastard!
However, Nami's reaction surprised Sanji.
Looking at the embracing pair, a flash of complex emotions crossed her face, followed by a forced, tight-lipped smile. She stepped forward, grabbing Luffy's arm.
"Hey, Luffy! Time's up! It's time to come with me and study navigation! We haven't reviewed yesterday's lesson yet!"
What's going on?
In a daze, Luffy finally snapped back to reality.
Oh, it was already that time.
So, what was the situation now?
Luffy held Vivi's waist. Nami pulled his arm.
The current situation was a bit... troublesome?
Luffy's brilliant mind took the high ground at this moment.
Before, Vivi might have let go immediately out of shyness or embarrassment.
But now, a strange courage made her tighten her grip on Luffy's shirt as well. The blush on her face hadn't faded, but she tried to maintain composure. "Ms. Nami, please wait a moment. I haven't finished teaching the partner dance segment yet."
"Hohoho. Our captain really loves to study, doesn't he?"
Nami raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over the determined Vivi before settling like a dagger on Luffy.
"Of course! Learning and I are as close as brothers!"
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Luffy quickly tried to salvage the situation.
Hearing this, Nami, though displeased, didn't press further.
After all, if Luffy loved studying that much, he couldn't possibly not come to her. Sanji watched, dumbfounded, his mind racing:
Is 'studying' just an excuse?! Is this actually some high-level tactic to get close to the ladies?!
Damn it! Why didn't I think of that tactic?! No, wait! A gentleman like me would never use such methods!
The morning's death-defying playground session finally ended because it was time to set sail.
The Log Pose for Little Garden took a full year to charge. Luffy couldn't wait that long, so they used Robin's.
Afterwards, with the help of the two giants, the Straw Hats acquired a large amount of supplies. Honestly, after half a day, the wild beasts of Little Garden didn't even dare show their faces anymore.
Dorry and Brogy stood on the shore like two majestic mountains, seeing them off.
"Straw Hat kid! Everyone!" Brogy's voice boomed like a bell. "Remember, no matter what you encounter on the seas, sail straight ahead! That's the romance of a man!"
"WAHAHAHA! That's right!" Dorry added with a hearty laugh. "Trust your ship! Trust your nakama! We'll be waiting in Elbaf to hear news of your names shaking the world!"
"Elbaf? Don't worry, we'll definitely get there," Luffy shouted from his perch on the sheep's head.
The Merry Go slowly sailed away from Little Garden.
At that moment, little Merry's figure appeared again. Clutching her small hammer, she pointed anxiously at the sea ahead. "Luffy! There's a big one."
"A big one?"
Luffy looked in the direction Merry was pointing.
Ahead on the horizon, an unimaginably huge shadow suddenly appeared.
Following that, a colossal, monstrous goldfish slowly rose from the sea. Its size was immense, comparable to a small island. Its gaping maw was like a deep cavern, capable of swallowing everything.
The legendary monster of the Grand Line—the Island Eater!
"G-Giant Goldfish?!"
Usopp was scared out of his wits.
"That's way too big."
Luffy instinctively assumed a stance. Activating his Gomu Gomu no Mi, he stretched his arm back, preparing to combine it with Haki for a Gomu Gomu no Hakkoku.
But just then, he saw Dorry and Brogy on the shore. They gave him encouraging smiles and simultaneously raised their giant warrior weapons.
Luffy understood instantly.
"Hold on tight! You're about to witness the uncles' true power."
True power?
Nami and the others were still confused, but Luffy had already experienced it many times... in his dreams.
The kind where he was killed over and over.
On the shore, Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance and a knowing smile, perfectly in sync. They aimed their giant weapons at the distant Island Eater, their formidable auras coalescing.
"Sail straight ahead!"
"Nothing in this world can hinder the freedom of these seas!"
"Taste the strongest technique of Elbaf... the Spear of Elbaf! HAKKOKU!!!"
They roared in unison, swinging their weapons together!
A massive shockwave, like a spear piercing heaven and earth, tore through the sea with unstoppable force, striking with pinpoint accuracy into the Island Eater's gaping maw.
BOOM!!!
The sea was split asunder.
A deafening roar echoed. The enormous golden figure trembled violently under the impact, letting out a mournful cry before being completely pierced. It slowly sank into the ocean depths, leaving only a massive, gradually subsiding whirlpool on the surface.
The Going Merry just managed to skirt the edge of the whirlpool, escaping unscathed.
"Friends! Fair winds and following seas!"
The hearty laughter of Brogy and Dorry carried to them from afar.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!