It had been just over a day since we defeated the Black Cat Pirates. The dust had long settled, and the villagers had returned to their peaceful lives, the tension of possible death and destruction replaced with relief—and for some, awe.
After all, they'd just seen a rubber man, a green-haired swordsman, a thief with a bag full of gold, a sniper who lied for a living, and me—a man they still hadn't figured out—fight off a pirate crew that had been hiding in plain sight for years.
Now, we were seated inside Kaya's mansion, where a grand feast had been prepared in our honor.
The dining hall was vast, yet warm. The long table, carved from polished mahogany, was covered in every kind of dish the staff could think of. Plates of roasted meat, steaming bowls of rice, baskets of fresh bread, fruits, fish, and even sweet cakes and desserts lined the center. And Luffy, of course, had already begun eating like a black hole.
"Oi, slow down!" Usopp shouted, watching in horror as Luffy inhaled an entire roast chicken like it was a grape. "You're gonna choke!"
"Let him be," Zoro said, casually sipping from his cup. "We'll be on the sea again soon. Might as well let him eat till he bursts."
I chuckled quietly as I leaned back in my chair, a cup of tea in hand. "If he bursts, we're going to need another captain."
"Don't worry," Nami said, stabbing a piece of fruit with her fork. "His stomach stretches more than his brain."
Kaya, sitting at the head of the table with a gentle smile, watched us with kind eyes. Her cheeks were slightly flushed—perhaps from wine, or maybe from the adrenaline still lingering after her close brush with death. She was no fighter, but she had shown real courage.
"I really can't thank you all enough," she said. "If it weren't for you, I… I might not be here right now."
"You should thank Usopp the most," Luffy said through a mouthful of food, crumbs spraying everywhere.
Usopp blushed, puffing out his chest. "W-Well, of course! I'm the great Captain Usopp! Hero of the East Blue!"
Nami rolled her eyes. "You were hiding behind a barrel the whole time."
"Strategic positioning!" he barked, pointing dramatically at her.
We all laughed. The tension had faded. For now, things were simple again.
As the meal went on, Kaya stood up and motioned for one of her attendants to bring something in.
"This," she said, revealing a rolled-up blueprint, "is my gift to you all."
We leaned forward with interest as she unrolled it. It was a ship. Sleek, modest in size but strong in structure. Elegant lines. A goat figurehead on the prow.
"I asked Merry to design and begin building it last night," she explained. "He stayed up through the night. It's smaller than a marine vessel, but fast and durable. You'll need a proper ship if you're going to venture further into the sea."
Luffy's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder. "Wooooah! It looks awesome!"
"I figured we'd be stuck on that rowboat forever," Nami said, blinking in surprise. "This… This is amazing."
"What's it called?" Zoro asked.
Luffy immediately slapped his palm on the table. "Going Merry!"
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"I just came up with it," he added proudly.
Kaya laughed, covering her mouth politely. "Then 'Going Merry' it shall be."
The room grew quiet for a moment as we looked at the blueprint. There was something symbolic about it. Not just a gift. Not just a tool. It was our future—our vessel. A place we'd call home.
I looked at Luffy and the others. This ragtag group of misfits, idiots, and dreamers.
"Looks like things are finally beginning," I murmured.
Zoro caught my gaze. "Yeah. The real journey starts now."
As the evening wore on, we finished the feast. Kaya offered rooms for the night, but Luffy, as expected, refused.
"Nope! We're sleeping on the Merry tonight! She's our ship now!"
Nami groaned, but she didn't fight it. "Fine. But if there's a single leak, I'm blaming you."
"Do ships even leak when they're brand new?" Usopp asked nervously.
We left the mansion just before sundown. The Going Merry was docked on the shore, floating gently in the evening tide. She was perfect. Simple, strong, and just big enough for our crew.
"Looks like it's time to say goodbye," Kaya said softly as we reached the dock. She was holding a small bouquet of wildflowers, her eyes locked on Usopp.
"Yeah," Usopp said, staring down at his feet. "It's time."
The goodbye was quiet. Gentle. There were no grand speeches or tears. Just a boy leaving his childhood behind and a girl watching him go with pride and sadness in her eyes.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, boarded the ship while Usopp lingered at the edge of the dock.
"Take care of yourself," Kaya whispered.
"You too," he said, before turning sharply and running aboard the Going Merry. He didn't look back.
But I something I need to do.
"Here take this." I offered Kaya a small glass bottom contains red liquid.
"What is this?" Kaya asked.
"A parting gift." I said, "After we go just drink it." I said as I entered the ship.
The Glass bottom contains a bit of my blood mixed with healing portion. Which was enough to heal Kaya her disease.
A small act of kindness.
"Raise the anchor!" Luffy shouted, climbing up the mast and laughing like a man who had just won the world.
"Set the sails!" I added with a grin, letting the wind wash over my face.
The sails caught the breeze, and just like that, the Going Merry began to move.
We waved to the people on the shore. Kaya stood with Merry and the mansion staff, her white dress fluttering in the wind, eyes bright with unshed tears.
As we sailed away, Zoro leaned on the railing and looked at me. "You sure about this? Getting involved with a bunch of lunatics?"
I looked out at the ocean, at the endless blue stretching toward the horizon.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I said.
Luffy whooped, jumping around the deck like a child. Usopp fiddled with his slingshot, mumbling something about sea monsters.
Nami had already opened up her map, brows furrowed in concentration as she traced a route with her finger.
I walked over, casually leaned beside her, and glanced down at the map.
"So, where to next?" I asked.
~~~
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