"A comedy performance, playing out right in front of me," Jerry murmured to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched the two unfortunate men disappear into the crowd. The corners of his own mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.
Kotatsu padded along at his side, occasionally darting ahead to sniff at a curious bubble before trotting back to rub against his leg. Jerry walked thoughtfully, deciding to do a quick loop of the area to get the lay of the land before settling on a prime fishing spot. The man and his loyal lynx began to wander, taking in the strange and beautiful sights of the archipelago.
At that very same moment, Deuce was humming a cheerful, off-key tune. After securing the ship, he was ready to enjoy his three days of shore leave. He returned to his cabin to grab his own wallet, only to find another one sitting on his desk—Ace's.
He froze, his good mood evaporating instantly. He stared at the worn leather wallet, a sense of impending doom washing over him. An Ace without a wallet wouldn't be stopped from eating, not for a second. For their captain, dining-and-dashing was less a crime and more a competitive sport.
There was no other choice. He had to find him, and fast. If Ace caused his usual level of commotion, who knew what kind of trouble would follow. Deuce snatched the wallet and bolted from the ship, a man on a mission. He had to find Ace before a full-blown riot started, and there was only one type of place his captain was guaranteed to be: a restaurant.
His fears, it turned out, were already a reality.
Ace was in his element, sprinting down the bubble-strewn pathways with a half-eaten takoyaki skewer in one hand. Behind him, a veritable army of furious chefs, waiters, and shop owners gave chase, waving fists, rolling pins, and brooms in the air.
"Get back here, you freeloader!" the fastest of the chefs, a burly man with a magnificent mustache, screamed. "If you don't stop, we'll tenderize you like a cheap steak!"
The thunderous stampede of a large group chasing a single person echoed through the grove. To an outsider, it might have looked like the frantic opening rush of an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Deuce arrived on the scene just in time to see the chaotic procession storm past. He watched the figures running with wild abandon under the bright afternoon sun, and for a fleeting, poetic moment, he saw it as the most beautiful expression of youthful freedom.
Bullshit, he immediately thought, rubbing his temples with a deep sense of exhaustion. He could only sigh and join the pursuit. He wasn't fast enough to catch Ace, but he could catch the victims. Weaving through the mob, he intercepted each angry vendor, offering profuse apologies and paying for the stolen food out of Ace's own wallet.
As Deuce bustled through the crowd, making amends one angry chef at a time, the running procession gradually thinned out and disappeared into the distance. Finally, it was over. Deuce bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. He'd managed to put out the fire without any major trouble.
Then, he inadvertently turned his head and saw a familiar man and a cat, sitting calmly on a park bench, watching the entire spectacle with keen interest.
"Jerry!" Deuce stomped over, gnashing his teeth. "Was it fun? Did you enjoy the show? You couldn't have offered to help!?"
Jerry smiled placidly, smacked his lips as if finishing a tasty snack, and spread his hands innocently. "How was I supposed to know you needed help? You were running around with such enthusiasm, I thought you were enjoying your morning workout."
"Get lost! How else was I supposed to catch up with them!?" Deuce snapped back, though he lacked the energy to be truly angry. He slumped down. "That's it. I have to keep an eye on Ace from now on." He lamented the fact that his three days of peaceful exploration would now be spent babysitting his captain's appetite. He stood up with a dejected look on his face.
"Heading that way?" Jerry asked. "What a coincidence. I was going in the same direction." He stood and followed leisurely behind Deuce, Kotatsu padding alongside him.
The chase was over, but the eating wasn't. They found Ace lounging on a bench in a nearby amusement park, happily finishing off the last of his ill-gotten gains.
Deuce approached silently from behind. With the practiced movement of someone who had done this many times before, he delivered a sharp, decisive karate chop to the top of Ace's head.
"Another free meal!"
"Ahem! Gack! Hah!" Ace choked, caught completely off guard. The half-swallowed food lodged in his throat, and his eyes bulged wide. He flailed, pounding his chest and tilting his head back until, with a final, mighty gulp, he managed to swallow. "Deuce! Are you trying to murder me!?"
Jerry strolled over, observing the scene with a critical eye. "The intensity was just right. A perfect strike to rattle his brain without causing any real damage."
"It would be better if he did choke to death," Deuce said with disdain, though he tossed Ace a bottle of water. "That'd be one less freeloader in the world. Remember this, Ace: you have to pay for your food!" He sat down heavily on the bench.
"I just took Kotatsu for a short walk, and you've already managed to eat this much," Jerry teased, sitting down on the other side of Ace. "You really are something else."
"Meow," Kotatsu chirped softly, rubbing against Ace's leg affectionately.
"Hey, it's not that big a deal," Ace said, smiling and rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I wasn't trying to not pay. I just couldn't find my wallet anywhere! I told the shopkeepers I'd be back later, and then I ran."
"Then keep your wallet on you!" Deuce snapped, unhappily shoving the leather pouch into Ace's chest. "Don't go out to eat if you don't have it!"
"Huh?" Ace took the wallet, his expression turning to one of confusion as he felt its weight. "Why is it so much lighter?"
Jerry just smiled. "Because its money is now inside of you, my friend."
"Fire Fist. You actually hid here. I finally found you!"
A female voice cut through their banter. The three of them looked up. Standing a few meters away, in front of a cotton candy stand, was Isuka. She walked towards them, one step at a time. The aggressive energy from their last few encounters was gone. Today, she seemed calm, almost peaceful. The midday sun softened her features, though her words still carried a familiar sharpness.
"Hi there! Good afternoon, Lieutenant," Jerry said, sensing the peaceful aura around her. He waved with a friendly smile. "Enjoying your day off?"
"Ah… I suppose so," Isuka replied, raising a hand to gently brush her hair back.
As she did, the burn scar on the back of her hand became prominent.
"That burn…" Deuce started, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Uh, excuse me." He trailed off immediately, seeing Isuka's expression turn slightly gloomy.
"It doesn't matter…" Isuka said softly, turning her hand over and gently stroking the scar with her other thumb. Her eyes seemed distant and pained, as if looking at a past she didn't want to recall. "It happened when I was a child. My hometown… it was invaded by pirates. They burned everything. The whole town was engulfed in flames. My parents… and so many others…"
She clenched her fists, her brows furrowing at the nightmarish memory. Hearing her words, Ace's playful demeanor vanished. His eyes flickered, and he looked up at the sky, his own expression unreadable. Jerry stroked his chin, and he and Deuce listened in respectful silence.
"I was trapped," Isuka continued, her voice quiet but steady. "Surrounded by fire and thick smoke. I thought it was the end. But just as I was losing hope, a figure in a Marine uniform appeared through the haze. He extended his hand to me." Her expression softened. "His name was Captain Draw. He saved me. It was because I admired him so much that I decided to join the Marines."
As she spoke, the clouds in her eyes seemed to part. Her face became bright with determination. "So now, this scar doesn't bring me pain. It only motivates me to move forward." She gently touched the scar again, no longer with sadness, but with resolve. Her entire being seemed to shine with purpose. "To prevent any more children from suffering the way I did, I've decided to arrest every last evil pirate in the world!"
"Meow~" Kotatsu meowed, hopping onto Jerry's lap to bask lazily in the sun.
Isuka's gaze locked onto Ace's. "You should stop being a pirate," she said, her tone surprisingly earnest. "I can tell you're not a bad person."
Ace, who had been silent throughout her story, looked back at her. A slow, crooked smile spread across his face. "If I'm not a pirate," he replied cheekily, "then will you support me?"
"Uh… you!" Isuka was caught completely off guard, a blush creeping up her neck. "If you don't want to be a pirate, you could join the Marines! I could even recommend you! I'm sure the higher-ups would allow it!"
"Join the Marines?" Ace didn't have to think for even half a second. "Sorry, can't do that." He suddenly pointed towards a distant food stall, his eyes sparkling with renewed hunger. "I'm hungry again. See ya!" He shot up from the bench and dashed off.
"Well, the show's over," Jerry said, standing up and stroking Kotatsu. "I'm heading out too. See you later, Deuce, Isuka."
He and the big cat strolled casually out of the amusement park, leaving a flustered Marine and an exasperated pirate in their wake.