Usopp had secretly slipped into Kaya's room once again and was recounting yet another one of his wild, exaggerated, and completely fabricated tales of his "grand adventures."
As usual, the girl was utterly captivated, her eyes shimmering with interest. Of course, the blonde woman was not foolish; quite the opposite, her mind was sharp, and she could easily spot the obvious contradictions in his stories.
Kaya knew her friend was simply telling her lies, yet it was these false adventures that brought color to her life every day. Confined to her bed, she could never truly live and see the world for herself, so all she could do was listen intently to what Usopp had to say.
But on that day, the stories were interrupted by the loud sounds of a struggle, followed by a heavy, dull impact, as if something solid had been thrown against a wall.
Kaya had no way of knowing at that point, but it was Hina who had invaded her house and was beginning her fight with Captain Kuro.
Usopp froze for a second, then whispered, "Did you hear that?" Kaya nodded, her hands trembling, worried.
Down the corridor the scuffle swelled, then fell quiet.
In the hallway, Jango from the Kuro Pirates saw the entire fight, his eyes wide in horror. He had just witnessed the swift and utter humiliation of his captain. Kuro was no match for the imposing woman.
"This is impossible! The captain... he's being crushed!" the pirate muttered, his terror overriding.
He thought about trying to hypnotize Hina, but it seemed too risky. If even Kuro didn't stand a chance against her, what could he do?
And if fighting was no option, he needed another plan to survive. At that moment, a single, desperate idea flashed through his mind: a hostage.
He spun around and began sprinting toward the only sanctuary he knew: Kaya's room.
"If I grab the girl, the bitch will have to stop!"
As Hina was occupied telling Coby about how cruel and unjust Marines really were, Jango barreled into Kaya's room. The door slammed.
Usopp stumbled to his feet, chest puffed in bravado, the familiar first step toward a fight he'd never finish. His fingers found the slingshot at his belt; however, his knees found the floor.
Fear tightened like a rope in his throat and pinned him in place.
The pirate closed the distance in two strides. And Usopp could just watch, unsure how to react, how to save his beloved friend.
He snatched Kaya by the throat, fingers like iron, and dragged her toward the doorway. Kaya's eyes went wide; she clawed uselessly at the hand.
Then he immobilized her and snatched a knife, pointing it against her neck.
"Let her go!" Usopp croaked. He was ready to fight, but fear kept paralyzing him.
He wanted to be brave. He wanted it more than anything. But the world narrowed to the pirate's grip and his own pounding heart. He could not move.
Then, before Usopp could defeat his fears, Hina burst through the door, silent as thunder.
She took in the scene with a single, measured look and stepped forward. Her hand flashed once, clean and final. Jango never saw the motion.
He didn't even get the chance to try leveraging his hostage, because he was on the floor, winded, the fight ripped from him before his first complaint.
Kaya coughed and slid from the loosened grip; Usopp let out a long, shaky breath. Relief hit him like a hand to the chest. Right after it, a hot spike of shame: he had meant to fight, he had meant to be brave, and he'd failed both.
Hina kept Jango in a cage, and as the man didn't resist, she marched through the house, eliminating the few other allies Kuro had there. She was massively more powerful than any of her enemies, so in an instant everything was done.
All Usopp was able to do was observe, tightening his grip as he noticed how weak he was. He kept looking at Kaya. She was so weak and scared, and in her worst moment, he was not enough to save her.
They made a small reunion once Hina came back to the room: just Coby, Hina, Merry, Kaya and Usopp. Actually, the reunion was about Hina telling the truth to Kaya and Merry. The others just kind of were there.
The truth hit Merry and Kaya like a slap; everything they'd suffered had a name and a face.
However, Usopp felt something burning inside him, not anger at Kuro, but a deep hate of himself.
He stared at the floor and saw the dagger Jango had used. Without thinking, he snatched it up not by the hilt but by the blade.
The metal blade bit his skin; blood welled and ran down his fingers.
"Stop!" Kaya screamed, lunging forward. Her voice cracked with fear.
"Sorry for being a coward!" Usopp howled, clutching the blade until it bit harder. He shook his head, eyes wild. "If I'd been stronger if I hadn't frozen you wouldn't have had to." He didn't finish. The apology spilled out raw and ugly.
"It's fine, just please, don't hurt yourself," Kaya hugged the man from behind, her eyes filled with tears. She just didn't want to see him getting hurt.
Seeing that, Hina let out a sigh. So Kaya was already in love with another man. She was good looking, but if this was the case, she had no reason to recruit her.
Displeased, she moved in an instant and ripped the dagger from Usopp's hands and slammed him back against the wall. Her hand was on his wrist before he could pull away, firm and uncompromising.
"You hear that sound?" she said. "That isn't bravery. That's desperation. You want to stop being a coward? You want to protect the woman you love? Then, look around."
Just then Usopp was able to realize how much Kaya was crying. And he was responsible this time. Once again he had hurt that woman.
"I'm sorry," he murmured to Kaya.
"It's okay, just please, don't hurt yourself," after everything, she still loved him deeply, and quickly moved to take a look at his hand.
Meanwhile, Usopp focused his attention on Hina, tears flowing from his eyes like a river. He spoke to Hina with a raw, begging edge in his voice. "Teach me," he breathed. "Teach me how to stop fearing. Please, teach me how to be strong."
Hina watched him for a long beat, and replied with a cold and honest tone. "You never stop fearing things," she said. "Only crazy people don't feel fear. Courage is knowing what matters and moving anyway."
Her eyes slid to Kaya. Usopp followed the look and felt the same sharp, steady pull: he knew exactly what he would fight for.
"Now, about how to get stronger…"
Hina's eyes landed on Coby, who flinched like a boy who'd smelled thunder.