Chapter 71: Daily Life on the going merry, A Closing Distance
The azure sea stretched endlessly, and the sky was as clear as if it had been washed.
The Going Merry sailed leisurely across the calm sea, catching a gentle sea breeze.
However, in stark contrast to this tranquil seascape, mornings on the ship often began with a chaotic commotion.
Slurp...
On the aft deck, Luffy was sprawled over the railing, his body twisting like a snake.
He was quietly creeping toward the three lush tangerine trees that had just been transplanted into the corner.
Looking at those golden, plump tangerines emitting an inviting fragrance, Luffy's mouth watered with crystal droplets, and his eyes literally turned into the shape of tangerines.
"They look so delicious... Just one... I probably won't be found out, right?"
Luffy's arm slowly elongated, his sinful little rubber hand about to touch the sacred fruit.
"Stop right there! You thieving rubber monkey!!"
A roar rang out, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind.
Clang!!
A heavy frying pan slammed hard onto Luffy's extended arm.
Wearing an apron and holding the frying pan, Sanji stood before the tangerine trees like a guardian deity.
"These are Nami-san's most precious tangerine trees! If even a single leaf falls, I'll turn you into rubber sashimi!!"
"That hurts! Sanji, you're so stingy! Aren't tangerines meant to be eaten!"
Luffy clutched his arm and protested loudly in dissatisfaction, then jumped backward.
This jump wouldn't have mattered, but he happened to land heavily on a certain moss-head who was fast asleep on the deck.
"Pwah!"
Zoro was dreaming of becoming the Worlds Greatest Swordsman when his stomach took a heavy hit, waking him instantly.
"You bastard! Who sucker-punched me?!"
Zoro sprang up, saw it was Luffy and Sanji, and immediately joined the fray with full morning grumpiness.
"You two idiots! What are you shouting about so early in the morning! Do you want to be sliced?!"
"Who are you calling an idiot? moss-head!"
"I'm talking to you! Shitty cook!"
"I want to eat tangerines!!"
The deck instantly turned into a chaotic mess, with dust flying everywhere.
Meanwhile, in another corner...
"Hehehe, after my improvements, this is the 'Special Super Invincible Chili Star' that can make an elephant cry from the spice!"
Usopp was wearing goggles, holding a small pill that was so red it looked purple, smirking with pride.
"Caw?"
The black Crow Clay leaned in curiously, tilting its head and staring at the red pill.
"Oh? Clay, you want a taste? This is good stuff!" Usopp handed the chili pill over with a wicked grin.
Clay, not knowing any better, opened its beak and swallowed it in one gulp.
One second, two seconds.
Boom—!!
Every feather on Clay's body instantly puffed out. Its originally black body turned a bright roasted turkey red, and its eyes looked like they were about to pop out.
"Caw—!! Hot!! This Great Me is burning up!!!"
It let out a shrill, miserable scream.
Then, like a red meteor, it shot straight over the railing and plunged into the sea with a "splash."
"Wahahaha! It's super effective!" Usopp clutched his stomach, laughing wildly.
"Caw caw! He... glug glug... help..."
Usopp paused, then immediately vaulted over the railing and jumped into the sea.
On the second deck.
This was the Vice Captain's exclusive spot.
Tatsuya was lying on a comfortable beach chair, a thick book covering his face and his hands crossed behind his head.
Although the title on the book read "Zeff's Logbook," his steady breathing betrayed that he was currently cruising through the "ocean of dreams."
He didn't even bother to move an inch despite the noise below, as if an invisible barrier separated him from that group of idiots.
Until...
Creak—
The door to the women's room was pushed open.
Nami looked at the three main combatants fighting over a few tangerines on the deck, and at Usopp who was clutching his stomach and laughing.
A bright red cross vein instantly popped on Nami's forehead, and a visible aura of black Haki rose from her body.
"You guys..."
Nami clenched her fists and walked over with a "nuclear" smile.
"First thing in the morning... can't you be a little bit quiet!!!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three dull thuds.
The three main combatants, who were just acting invincible, now sat neatly on the deck with smoking lumps on their heads.
"It hurts... Nami, are you a demon..." Luffy clutched the bump on his head, eyes welling with tears.
"Shut up!"
Nami stood with hands on her hips, announcing the new rules of the ship with an overwhelming presence.
"Listen up! Since we're at sea, you must follow the rules of this Navigator!"
"First, I manage all the money on the ship! If you want to spend money, you must apply!"
"Second, I manage the course! Anyone who dares to give wrong directions will be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!"
Nami pointed to the tangerine trees behind her, her gaze becoming incredibly sharp.
"Third! These three tangerine trees are an absolute forbidden zone! Anyone who dares to steal even one... I'll fine them ten million Berries!!"
"Yes!! Nami-san!!"
Even though Sanji had been hit, he was now twisting his body with hearts in his eyes. "The feeling of being managed by Nami-san... is wonderful! This is also a trial of love!"
Zoro curled his lip and turned his head away in annoyance. "Tch, what a troublesome woman."
...
The dead of night.
The silvery moonlight draped over the shimmering sea like a thin veil, and the whole world seemed to have fallen asleep.
Except...
"Snore... meat... delicious... snore..."
In the men's cabin, Luffy's thunderous snoring rose and fell, as if performing a far-from-pleasant symphony.
"..."
Tatsuya opened his eyes, looked at the ceiling, and sighed helplessly.
"This snoring is practically stronger than a sonic attack."
Unable to sleep due to the noise, Tatsuya simply walked out of the room quietly, planning to catch some sea breeze on the deck.
Just as he reached the stern, he stopped in his tracks.
Under those tangerine trees stood a slender figure.
Nami wasn't asleep.
She had just showered, and her orange short hair clung damply to her cheeks. She wore only a thin white shirt, looking exceptionally soft and tranquil under the moonlight.
She reached out and gently stroked the leaves of the tangerine tree. Her eyes lacked the shrewdness and temper of the daytime, leaving only endless tenderness.
"Not sleeping so late, are you counting how many fruits have grown on these trees so you can sell them for money?"
Tatsuya's lazy voice broke the silence.
He leaned against the railing, looking at the girl under the trees with a smile.
Nami didn't snap like she did during the day.
She turned around, the moonlight spilling over her face, her brown eyes shimmering with a complex light.
"Idiot."
Nami said softly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"These tangerines... are priceless treasures that no amount of money can buy."
Tatsuya smiled and didn't argue.
He took a step and slowly approached Nami.
As the distance closed, the air became filled with a faint scent of body wash and the fragrance of tangerines.
Tatsuya's gaze lowered, falling on Nami's exposed left shoulder.
There, the black jagged tattoo that once symbolized slavery and nightmares had completely disappeared.
In its place was a brand new design—a windmill and a tangerine interwoven, looking exceptionally vivid under the moonlight.
Tatsuya reached out.
His fingertips lightly touched the new tattoo.
The cool touch made Nami's body stiffen slightly, and a blush instantly flushed her cheeks, but she didn't pull away, allowing Tatsuya's finger to remain.
"Compared to that ugly saw-tooth..."
Tatsuya looked at the design, his voice low. "This pattern looks much better."
Nami lowered her head, looking at the design on her shoulder, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.
"Yeah..."
"It represents freedom... and family."
She looked up at Tatsuya, who was close at hand—the man who had severed her shackles in the flames.
"Thank you, Tatsuya."
Nami's voice was very soft but very sincere.
Then, to hide the overly ambiguous atmosphere.
She deliberately put on a troubled look and brought up what Tatsuya had said earlier on the ship when he helped her keep her treasure.
"Speaking of which... although you helped me keep my money, I owe you so much debt now..."
Nami looked up half-jokingly and half-seriously, her large eyes sparkling with cunning and an imperceptible trace of expectation.
"What if I can't pay it off for my whole life?"
Hearing this.
Tatsuya slowly withdrew his hand, his black eyes looking at her with a smile.
He suddenly leaned down, closing in on Nami.
The distance between them closed instantly, close enough to feel each other's breath.
Tatsuya leaned into Nami's ear, his warm breath hitting her earlobe.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said playfully and softly:
"Can't pay it off, huh..."
"Then use your whole life... to slowly pay back the debt."
Boom—
These words were like a depth charge.
Nami's face instantly turned bright red, all the way to her ears, and her heart pounded like a frantic deer.
"You... you...!"
She looked up in a panic, meeting Tatsuya's smiling eyes, her mind going completely blank.
"G-Goodnight!!"
Nami could no longer handle it and suddenly pushed away the approaching Tatsuya.
Like a startled rabbit, she ran back to her room in a fluster.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned to the deck.
Tatsuya stood in place, watching the fleeing figure. He rubbed his nose, the curve of his lips growing wider.
He turned around, looked at the bright moon in the sky, and stretched contentedly.
"The moonlight tonight... is really nice."
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