We had all boarded Buggy's ship and, along with his crew, landed on a nearby beach to take advantage of the open space. His crewmates quickly got to work, laying out blankets, unloading crates of food, utensils, and even a few worn but still usable musical instruments. Some gathered dry wood while others improvised a makeshift kitchen, and a campfire was lit despite the still-warm rays of the setting sun.
The atmosphere was surprisingly cheerful—almost familial. Laughter, pirate songs, and clinking dishes mixed with the scent of grilled fish and spiced rum. But as I watched the scene from a raised tree stump, something caught my attention.
Thanks to my ability, I could see the colors of people's hearts—a perception I rarely used because of how disturbing it could be. Yet this time, curiosity pushed me to observe Buggy's crew.
And there, I saw... a change.
The hearts, previously dull and gray for most of them, had now turned green—a sign of a strange kind of goodness. Intrigued, I consulted the system for a clearer explanation of each heart color and its variants:
GOLD: Pure goodness, the result of selfless acts for other good-hearted souls.
WHITE: Good, but passive—a calm goodness with no real involvement. Neither helped nor harmed anyone.
BLUE: Neutral—typical of soldiers or citizens who follow rules without moral engagement.
GREEN: Good in action, but ambiguous. Has harmed good people but fought against far worse.
BLACK: Evil—has intentionally harmed good-hearted individuals.
GRAY: Critical zone—transition toward darkness, marked by shady deeds and early signs of corruption.
RED: Pure evil—has repeatedly killed innocents or benevolent souls.
PURPLE: Abyssal—the essence of darkness. A being of extreme cruelty or pure hatred. Rare and terrifying.
The system also noted that each color had intensity gradients, forming a living spectrum. The more I looked, the more I understood.
Most of Buggy's subordinates displayed a light green hue—almost jade. Pirates' hearts who, yes, stole and scared people… but mostly targeted those far worse than themselves: corrupt Marines, local tyrants, bandits. They spread fear among the wicked, and often left innocents unharmed.
As for Buggy, his heart glowed a dense, radiant emerald green. He fell in the "good" zone—in a twisted, chaotic way, sure… but undeniably there. A pirate, yes. A clown, definitely. But not a cruel killer. Maybe even a man with values.
"What are you starin' at like that, kid?" grunted Buggy, catching me eyeing his crew pensively, a half-smirk on his lips. He raised his mug toward me. "Don't tell me you're tempted to join my crew?" he teased, sparking laughter all around the fire.
I didn't even get a chance to answer before an elastic whip smacked into me violently.
"WHAT?! Oh no you don't! Jordan's my vice-captain and my friend! Forget it, clown!" shouted Luffy as he grabbed me in a bone-crushing hug, squeezing me like an overstuffed plushie.
"Argh, Luffy… breathe, man… You're about to pop my lungs…" I groaned, trying to break free. Then louder: "He was joking, Luffy. Let me go before I turn pale blue."
Buggy's crew burst out laughing at the scene, and even Buggy almost choked on his beer. He pounded his chest and took a long gulp.
"You two are something else. I like you," he chuckled.
I leaned closer to Luffy and murmured:
"You know… I learned something watching them. These men's hearts… they're not so bad. Most of them have light green. Not saints—but not monsters either."
Luffy looked up, thoughtful for a second, then replied with his usual goofy but sincere grin:
"Well yeah! Anyone who shares their meat's gotta be a good person."
And he went back to happily stuffing his face, as if that simple truth solved every moral dilemma in the world. I sighed softly, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
I then wandered between the makeshift tables, watching the scenes of camaraderie with quiet amusement.
Nami, seated at the center of a group of pirates, was drinking with such ease that she'd already knocked out four of Buggy's crewmates. I heard her laugh—sharp and teasing—which oddly reminded me of Cana from another world… Thankfully, she didn't drink all day.
A little further away, Usopp was in the middle of a shooting contest. Two of Buggy's men were tossing empty bottles into the sea, and he was trying to explode them mid-air using his new bow and some magically infused bolts. Glass shards flew as cheers rang out.
Off to the side, near a smaller fire, Koby listened intently to Koushirou, who was clearly giving him tips on posture and breathing with a sword. Kuina, arms crossed, occasionally nodded, stepping in now and then to correct a detail. Koby looked focused—honored to have two such prestigious mentors, even for a short time.
As for Zoro, he leaned against a tree trunk, slightly away from the bustle. I eventually sat beside him, and we shared a few minutes of peaceful silence, quietly sipping our drinks.
The sea breeze carried the scents of salt, roasted meat, and smoke. Laughter echoed softly behind us.
Then I spoke, without turning my head:
"By the way, Zoro… Luffy wanted to invite you to join us before that explosion cut him off earlier. What do you say? Want to come adventure with us?"
He stayed silent for a moment. I could feel him glancing at me from the corner of his eye, as if trying to gauge my intent. Then his gaze drifted toward Kuina, who was laughing softly nearby, sitting between her father and Nami, sharing a bottle.
Zoro let out a quiet sigh."I've thought about it. Really. But… I made a promise." His hand gently gripped the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji."I promised Kuina that I'd become the world's greatest swordsman. I made that vow at her grave..." He paused. "And now that she's back, that grave is no longer a goodbye... I want to stay by her side. To grow stronger with her."
I nodded slowly, respecting his choice."That's honorable. No need to rush. Just know the door is always open. And you know where to find us."
After another hour of heavy drinking, filled with laughter, pirate songs, and a few men passed out beneath the tables, Buggy suddenly stood up, spreading his arms theatrically. His voice, loud and commanding despite the alcohol, immediately cut through the noise.
"Straw Hat. Jordan. Come with me. We need to talk."
At his side, his two loyal lieutenants—Cabaji, the silent acrobat, and Mohji, the beast tamer—stood up at once. The three of them headed toward the captain's cabin, located at the back of the ship, slightly removed from the festivities. A few curious glances followed us, but no one said anything. When the captain calls, you follow.
The cabin was surprisingly tidy—modestly but tastefully decorated. A few hunting trophies, worn marine charts, a swaying lamp hung from the ceiling. No overflowing gold, but quality furniture, and most importantly, a large round polished wooden table sat at the center.
Buggy dropped into a tall chair, propping one foot up on the table with the arrogance of a king in war council. Cabaji and Mohji sat on either side, arms crossed. Luffy, true to himself, jumped into a chair across from him, legs crossed, grinning. I remained standing behind him, falling naturally into my vice-captain role.
When Buggy spoke again, his tone was far more serious than usual.
"Let's start with that soul-eating monster. I need a clear summary. You said you beat him… but how?"
Luffy opened his mouth, ready to respond, but I gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me handle this. I fought him the longest."
I turned to Buggy, crossing my arms.
"At first, I arrived on the island ahead of the others. Just a simple recon. Nothing alarming at first. I took some time to rest… until I saw an unknown ship land. A man came ashore. Tall, lean, blood-red hair, and an aura as black as tar. The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong."
Buggy nodded slowly. Even Cabaji had stopped spinning his dagger, now listening intently.
"He headed straight for the old master, Koushirou. He used the powers of a Devil Fruit… a Mythical Zoan, the Divine Crocodile Ammit. His fruit allowed him to manifest the souls of the dead, then devour them after empowering them with energy taken from the living who were emotionally linked to those souls."
Buggy frowned. Mohji clenched his fists.
"He recreated the ghost of a young girl—Kuina, Koushirou's daughter. And he siphoned strength from her father and from Zoro to make her more real, more solid. Then, when she became 'edible' in his eyes… he tried to devour her. Literally."
I saw Buggy's eyes narrow, his expression turning ice-cold.
"And you stopped him."
"That's when everything escalated. I was the first to fight him. He was far stronger than I expected. His Armament Haki… I'd never seen anything like it. Dense, hard as diamond, paired with near-divine endurance thanks to the souls he'd absorbed. He even claimed..."
I paused, looking at both Buggy and Luffy. The latter seemed tense—more focused than I'd ever seen him.
"...that he'd devoured part of the Pirate King's soul. Just crumbs, he said—but it probably granted him that terrifying mastery of haki."
A heavy silence followed. Buggy was no longer smiling. Even his arms had fallen limp by his side.
"Tch…" he growled. "If that's true, then that guy was an abomination."
"That's why we had no choice. We all joined forces. Zoro, Koushirou, Luffy, Usopp—even Nami, Koby, and myself. We had to work together to weaken him. In the end… we defeated him."
I deliberately left out the role of the Heartless. Some truths were better left in the dark.
Buggy let out a long sigh, running a hand over his face.
"And here I thought I was just going to avenge the resting soul of my old captain…" He shook his head. "Damn… Thank you. Really. You got there first, but I'd probably have lost a few men to him."
"No worries…" I said, locking eyes with him. "I couldn't just stand by while he tried to eat a young girl."
Buggy nodded, his expression graver now, but tinged with respect. Luffy, meanwhile, wore a wide grin, proud as ever to see his friends defending the innocent.
Then the mood shifted, a bit lighter but laced with curiosity.
"Now for the next topic… That straw hat of yours. You got it from a pirate, didn't you?" Buggy asked, fixing Luffy with genuine interest.
Luffy nodded, eyes sparkling with memories.
"Yeah! Shanks gave it to me, the day he left my village. He told me to return it to him once I've become King of the Pirates!" he said, fists clenched with determination.
A soft smile spread across Buggy's lips. He lowered his eyes slightly, nostalgic.
"Shanks, huh… So he found what he was looking for. That hat meant a lot to him. I guess I've got no reason to linger in East Blue anymore. We were cabin boys together, you know… on Roger's ship."
He paused, his gaze growing more serious."Now, Ace… The Ace you mentioned—is he Portgas D. Ace?"Luffy slowly nodded. "Yeah. He's my brother."Buggy exhaled loudly through his nose, clearly surprised. "Tch… What a small world."
I raised a hand, curious. "Buggy, hold on. I have a question too. With your power, your crew, your experience… why stay stuck in East Blue all this time?"
He tilted his head, amused, then crossed his arms behind him and looked up at the ceiling of the cabin."Let's just say… I made a promise to Shanks. A promise I just fulfilled. So… expect to see me on the Grand Line very soon."His smile widened—mischievous and blazing.
At that moment, a loud commotion rose from outside—cheers, cries of surprise. Curious, we left the cabin.
Out on the beach, the festive atmosphere had frozen. All eyes were turned toward Kuina… or rather, where she had been.Her spectral body was slowly fading, becoming translucent, like mist scattered by the wind. Her face was streaked with tears.
Zoro stood in front of her, unmoving, fists clenched. Koshiro, her father, trembled slightly, his eyes misty. Around them, a faint violet glow shimmered—gentle but strong. The energy once taken from them now flowed back into their bodies.
Kuina, her hands outstretched, was sobbing."No… no… not now… I just… found you again…"Her voice, broken by emotion, was barely a whisper—inaudible to the others.But I could still see her. I could still hear her.
The world around her felt blurred, disconnected. Her spectral body became more and more transparent until it vanished completely from the others' view.Yet she was still there.Her aura remained stable, trapped in the space between life and death—just inches from the living world.
Zoro, teeth clenched, stared at the empty space before him. He could no longer see her—but he could still feel her. Maybe by instinct. Maybe through the bond of their hearts.
He placed a hand over his chest, the Wado Ichimonji at his side vibrating faintly."You're not gone, Kuina… You live here. As long as I keep wielding this sword… you'll be with me."
Koshiro slowly knelt down, placing a hand on the ground, his shoulders shaking. His blurred gaze searched desperately for the image of his daughter he could no longer perceive."My daughter… your dream is now ours. Keep watching over us…"
Kuina, still visible to me, broke down in silent sobs. She looked at Zoro, then at her father, hands reaching out but unable to touch them.Then, she slowly turned her eyes toward me."I'm still here… but it's even more painful being invisible to them…" she whispered.
I stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder—the only tangible link in that fractured space between life and death."I see you, Kuina. You're not alone. And one day, I'll free you completely. But for now, stay with us. There's still so much you can witness… and so much you can inspire."
She nodded, wiping her tears, taking a deep breath—even without lungs. She stood tall once again, proud and dignified. Her gaze glowed with a new strength.
"Luffy, I accept your invitation to join your crew," Zoro declared, just as Kuina told me she would follow too.Her bond with the grave had been broken, and she now seemed linked to the sword she once shared with Zoro.
(Author's Note: And that's it for this weekend! I hope you enjoyed it. I also took the opportunity to clarify the heart color system. Take care, and see you next time!)