Chapter 7: The First Night Party and a Drifting Island
Sol turned around and suddenly realized Nami, who had been standing right behind him, had vanished without a trace. His mouth twitched. "This woman… she'd be top-tier in the assassin business if she switched careers."
"Hisss—"
Zoro sucked in a sharp breath, clutching his waist wound as he dropped to one knee. Blood seeped through his fingers, pooling dark red on the sandy ground.
"First that bastard Buggy's cheap shot…" he gritted out, tearing open the blood-soaked fabric, "…then the acrobat swordsman's sneak kick…" Veins bulged on Zoro's forehead from the pain. "These guys fight dirtier than the last!"
Sol's palm glowed with soft blue light. He gently pressed it to Zoro's wound. The vicious gash closed visibly before their eyes, not even leaving a scar.
"Huh?" Zoro touched the once-torn skin in surprise. "Thanks, Sol. Didn't know you could do that…" He grinned wide. "Looks like you can handle both doctor and cook duties on the ship from now on."
"Hey, don't push your luck." Sol withdrew the magic—only to be yanked by the sleeve by Luffy.
Luffy held up his torn straw hat with both hands, eyes sparkling. "Sol! Can you fix this too?"
Bam!
A loving iron fist slammed into the rubber head.
"Idiot!" Sol's forehead vein throbbed. "This is physical damage—not a wound! You think I'm a tailor?!"
Luffy squatted on the ground clutching his smoking head. "But Zoro's wound…"
Sol sighed, turning to Zoro. "Just so you know—my healing magic only works on other people. It does nothing for myself." He pointed at his own chest. "If I ever go down hard one day, think of my life and get a real ship doctor on board."
"Ta-da~! I'm back!"
At that moment, Nami—who had disappeared earlier—came bouncing back with a bulging sack slung over her shoulder. The clinking inside was unmistakably freshly "collected" loot. She didn't wait for Luffy to react; she snatched the straw hat, pulled out needle and thread like magic, and said cheerfully, "I'm in a good mood right now. This hat's important to you, right? I'll sew it up for you—no charge this time, hehe."
Luffy's eyes went wide. "Whoa! Nami, you know how to sew?!"
"Duh. Anyone who survives at sea needs this skill, okay?" Her fine stitches danced along the brim. The tear vanished in moments, restored perfectly.
Nami twirled the needle proudly. "How's that? Not bad, right?" She plopped the fixed hat back on Luffy's head.
Just then, the mayor rushed into the port with a crowd of villagers wielding farm tools—only to find Buggy's crew moaning on the ground. The old mayor's cane clattered to the dirt. "These… these vicious pirates actually…"
"Run! Now! Immediately!" Nami hissed, orange hair whipping in the wind. "If those villagers start crying with gratitude, I might end up giving away the treasure—absolutely not!"
Zoro muttered while sprinting, "Your obsession with money is terrifying…"
The four dashed to the harbor, breathless. Nami eyed their gently rocking sailboat. "Wait… this is your pirate ship? It looks so tiny!"
Sol hopped aboard, patting the weathered mast casually. "Just a temporary ride~" He counted on his fingers. "Official crew's four people right now."
"Four?" Nami narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Luffy slung an arm around her neck. "You're one of us too, Nami! Once we find a musician, we'll be five!"
"Who said I'm joining your broke pirate crew?! I told you—it's just a temporary employment thing!" Nami jumped back, bristling—then noticed the boat drifting away from the dock on the ebbing tide. "Wait—!"
"Sky Dragon's—Roar—!!"
Sol inhaled deeply, chest expanding, then unleashed a roaring torrent of gale-force wind from his mouth. The sailboat shot forward like it had been kicked by a giant—bow rising 45 degrees. Nami's orange hair streamed straight back.
"Eeeeek!!" She clung desperately to the mast. "Too fast—it'll break apart! And we're going the wrong direction, you idiot!!"
Luffy hung excitedly from the figurehead. "Wahahaha! Faster! Faster!"
Zoro leaned against the rail, sea wind whipping his hair. He'd somehow swiped a bottle of rum from the hold and took a long swig, throat bobbing. "Ah… now this is sailing."
Nami rushed to the helm, spinning the wheel furiously. She caught a favorable wind current, steering the ship into it. The hull shuddered gently, lifted by the invisible flow, and began gliding smoothly along the stream.
Sol had already stopped his roar and joined Zoro for drinks. Luffy saw and dove in too. Soon it turned into a full open-deck party.
Nami watched the three making a ruckus on deck—Luffy trying to stretch his arm to steal Zoro's bottle, Sol holding it high with a wicked grin, Zoro facepalming helplessly. A tide of conflicting emotions surged inside her.
(Maybe… they could stand up to Arlong?)
The thought flashed—and was ruthlessly suppressed. Her nails dug into her palm. (But pirates are still pirates… how could I ever…)
"Hey! You guys—"
Nami suddenly shouted, a bright smile blooming on her face without her realizing it. "Save some booze for me! I carried that heavy sack of treasure all this way—my throat's on fire!"
She dashed over, snatched the bottle from Sol's hand, and chugged a big gulp. The burn slid down her throat, strangely sweet.
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Nami's joining the party too? Awesome!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Don't force it if you can't handle your liquor."
Sol gave her a meaningful look, lips curving. "Navigator lady—should we deduct the booze cost from your treasure share?"
"Dream on!" Nami instinctively hugged her sack tighter—but burst out laughing at the trio's hearty guffaws.
The four drank through the night. By morning they were all passed out on deck. Sol woke to a suffocating feeling—Nami's head was pillowed on his chest, her leg slung shamelessly across Luffy's stomach. Zoro sprawled near the helm, three swords stuck upright in a barrel like a clothesline.
"These guys…" Sol tried to free his arm—Nami only clung tighter, mumbling "Berries…" in her sleep, drool glistening at her mouth corner.
A seagull's cry woke Zoro. He staggered up—then stumbled.
Crash!
The barrel toppled with a loud bang, scattering birds. Luffy shot upright. "Meat!!" Nami reflexively drew her staff. "Enemy attack?!"
The four stared at each other.
Only then did they notice the ship's bow pointing at an unfamiliar small island. They'd drifted all night—who knew where.
Nami facepalmed. "So… who was on watch last night?"
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