The Next Day: Hayden's Second Day in the Pirate World
The morning sun shone gently over the forest clearing where Hayden and Robin had spent the night. Robin sat quietly atop a wide tree stump, a thick book resting on her knees as she read with calm focus. The shade of the trees dappled her figure, and a soft breeze ruffled the pages now and then.
Meanwhile, not far from her, Hayden was standing on a patch of grass, shirt slightly damp with sweat. Dressed in simple clothes borrowed—with Robin's help—from the nearby village, he now wore pants instead of the skirt from the previous day. He gripped his Zanpakutō, the Asauchi, with both hands, practicing swings in a steady rhythm. The chain attached to the pommel clinked softly with each movement.
He hadn't yet spent his initial 100 system points. Since it was likely the only resource he'd get early on, Hayden had decided to wait and adapt based on his environment. His current plan was straightforward: train in the morning, head into town at noon to gather information (perhaps through a newspaper or bulletin board), purchase a mask to conceal his identity, then return to continue sword practice in the afternoon.
Having crossed into this world, Hayden knew that only strength could ensure an easy life.
Though he'd never trained in kenjutsu or any formal sword art, he believed that practicing basic forms—like in countless anime he had seen—could still bring results. He drilled until the movements became second nature, trusting that consistent effort would build his physical foundation regardless of whether his technique was technically perfect.
Hayden was methodical by nature. He liked to structure his days and stuck to his routines.
Sweat ran down his forehead, stinging his eyes and blurring his vision. His arms trembled from the repeated swings—numb, as if lead had filled them. After over an hour of practice, he finally stopped, breathing heavily and wiping his face with his sleeve.
"Break time," he muttered, trudging over to Robin.
Robin noticed him approaching. She sniffed lightly and frowned. "Pervert. You stink."
"Heh. Don't you feel the sheer masculinity radiating off me?" Hayden chuckled, plopping down beside her and lying back on the stump, resting his head near her lower back.
Robin didn't move. She continued reading, her voice flat. "You smell like a wet rag."
"Hehe," Hayden grinned, unbothered. He closed his eyes, enjoying the peace.
Despite her words, Robin tolerated his presence. That was rare. Hayden wasn't afraid of her Devil Fruit powers and treated her like a normal person. For Robin, who had been feared and ostracized all her life, that was more than enough.
The clearing fell into a comfortable silence—Robin quietly turning pages, Hayden half-asleep with a trace of drool at the corner of his mouth.
But peace is fragile.
In the thicket beyond the clearing, four children crouched behind the trees, peering at the pair.
"Look at that!" one boy with round glasses whispered excitedly, pointing.
"We found the monster!" said another kid with a headscarf.
"Huh? The monster has a friend?" the girl among them blinked in confusion.
"Who cares!" shouted a wild-haired boy. "Let's do it!"
The ringleader raised his hand. "Attack!"
Each of them hurled a tomato they had brought with mischievous precision.
Robin, immersed in her book, sensed something a split second too late. She turned her head—
Splat!
A tomato burst against the side of her head. Red pulp dripped down her cheek.
"Ow!" she cried out, startled and slightly stung.
Laughter erupted.
The four kids emerged from the woods, pointing and howling with delight. "Monster! Monster! Monster!" they chanted in unison, jumping and clapping.
Robin stood, her expression darkening as she recognized them—the same children from town who frequently tormented her.
Hayden's eyes opened.
He had been on the edge of sleep, but their shrill chanting and Robin's cry pulled him fully awake.
He sat up and quickly scanned the situation. Tomato juice on Robin's head. Four brats taunting her nearby.
His expression changed instantly.
They were bullying Robin—right in front of him.
A quiet fury surged through him.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Robin raise her left hand slightly—her fingers curling in that now-familiar motion.
She was activating her Devil Fruit: the Hana Hana no Mi.
Hayden immediately understood.
Hayden still suppressed his emotions for the time being and stood in front of Robin, shielding her.
Robin could easily scare those kids off with her Hana Hana no Mi abilities—but it never lasted. They'd run away crying, only to return later to bother her again.
But Hayden didn't intend to let this become a cycle.
He wanted to leave a lasting impression.
"Hey, you guys!" Hayden shouted at the four brats in front of him. He raised his right hand and rested it casually on his shoulder. "I'll say this once. Come here and apologize to Robin... or maybe I'll let you go."
His voice was calm, but firm, as if stating a fact.
The four kids, who had been laughing earlier, suddenly burst into even louder laughter after hearing Hayden's words.
The one with glasses and cropped hair clutched his stomach, forcing out a mocking gasp. "Wha—? Apologize? To a monster?"
"Hahaha!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"The monster's friend is a monster too!" one with a headscarf added smugly.
"Told you, monsters don't have normal brains!" another cackled.
None of them took Hayden seriously.
Hayden stared at them quietly. Each of their mocking expressions fanned the flames inside him.
He had once felt helpless just reading scenes like this in manga. But now, watching it happen right in front of him—he couldn't stand it.
Clenching his fists, Hayden used the point he had debated over for the entire day.
He lowered his head and muttered:
"Bakudō #9: Geki."
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat!"
Though his spiritual pressure hadn't yet fully formed into a visible force, a crimson glow—one only he could see—briefly shimmered over his body.
From behind, Robin watched in stunned silence as an invisible force suddenly immobilized the four brats. They dropped to the ground with a dull thud thud thud thud, like puppets whose strings had been cut.
The boys were frozen. They couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Only silent, terrified cries filled their minds.
Bean-sized tears slid from their locked eyes.
Hayden approached slowly, his wooden training sword held like a staff in one hand. The fear in their eyes deepened with every step he took.
Furious moments ago, Hayden now found their ridiculous expressions strangely calming.
He didn't regret using his only point to learn what seemed like a minor Bakudō.
He crouched down in the center of the four and poked each one lightly with the tip of his sword.
"Feeling honest now?" he asked, cocking his head.
No response. Just panicked eyes.
"Hmm? Cat got your tongue?" He poked them again, frowning.
The brats were trying to move, desperate to break free. Tears and snot smeared their faces as they trembled.
Hayden finally realized—"Ohhh... right. This Bakudō seals speech too, huh?"
He grinned, amused. "Oops. My bad."
"But alright, here's how we'll do this. If you understand what I say, roll your eyes. Got it?"
The four boys all rolled their eyes in sync.
"Good. When I let you go, you'll apologize to Robin. And if I ever catch you bothering her again, you know what'll happen next, right?"
Again, four simultaneous eye-rolls.
"Excellent." Hayden stood up, satisfied. "Release."
As soon as their bodies were free, the four scrambled to their feet, bolted like rabbits, and disappeared crying and screaming into the forest.
"HEY!" Hayden shouted after them. "You're supposed to apologize first!"
But they were already gone, vanishing behind the trees and a rising cloud of dust.
"Tch..." Hayden clicked his tongue. "Waste of a Bakudō."
He had only enough spiritual energy to cast it once a day. And now that was it.
At that moment, Robin walked silently up behind him. He didn't even hear her steps.
Just as he turned to face her—
She hugged him.
Tightly. Silently.
Hayden stood still, stunned, unsure of what to do, letting Robin lean her small frame against him. His expression blanked out completely.
But in that quiet moment, he understood.
She didn't need words. Just someone to stand in front of her—if only once.