Laughter rippled through the clearing beneath the moonlight.
Jin leaned back on the stone bench, grinning as Nami puffed out her tiny chest like a proud swan.
Her nose wrinkled in triumph, her orange hair catching the soft glow of the fire as everyone applauded her declaration to become the ship's navigator.
Jin couldn't help but laugh, the sound warm and bright. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he said, eyes glinting with amusement. "Dreams and drive—those are the only two things I ever ask for on my crew."
He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees. "And for the record, little navigator, I already knew you had talent. You're one of those rare ones born with a map in their head. Just keep walking that path… you'll reach places even I can't see yet."
Nami's face flushed. "R-Really?! You mean it?!"
"Of course," Jin said, ruffling her hair before she could dodge. "From today onward, you're officially part of the crew of the Eternal Life."
Nami squealed and bounced in place. "I'm a crew member! I'm a crew member!"
Her excitement was infectious. Even Nojiko smiled softly, hands folded behind her back, and Bellemere laughed heartily, wiping away a tear of pride.
"Just don't let it get to your head," Kuina said dryly, though the corner of her lips curved upward. "You still have a lot to learn."
"That's what I have all of you for!" Nami shot back, puffing her cheeks in mock defiance.
The group burst into laughter again, the sound echoing across the quiet hillside.
By the time the stars had fully claimed the sky, the laughter had mellowed into calm conversation.
The bonfire crackled gently as everyone lounged about in the grass. Jin leaned against a boulder, his purple eyes reflecting the flames.
"Well," he began, his voice low but confident, "I've got good news for you all."
Hina tilted her head. "Oh? Don't tell me you've decided to stop being an overworking blacksmith."
"Ha! Not a chance," Jin chuckled. "The blade's nearly finished. A few more refinements, and it'll be perfect. When it's done… we leave the East Blue."
Makino blinked, straightening slightly. "You mean—"
"To the Grand Line," Jin confirmed. His voice carried a quiet, burning certainty. "To the real world of monsters and kings."
The air shifted with his words. Even the wind seemed to still.
Kuina's gaze hardened with resolve. Hina's playful smirk faded into a small, serious smile.
Makino closed her eyes, a faint warmth in her chest; she'd followed Jin long enough to know he never spoke in half-measures.
But Jin's tone softened again, his grin returning. "Before that… some of us need to step it up."
His gaze slid toward Kuina.
"You've been improving fast," he said. "But your physical strength hasn't kept up with your swordsmanship. You rely too much on technique. Against monsters like Arlong, that's dangerous."
Kuina flushed, lowering her eyes. "You're right. I've been focusing too much on sword training… I haven't fully mastered the Shave technique yet."
Jin nodded, not harsh, just firm. "You've got the discipline. Just balance your training. Don't forget—the body is the sheath. If the sheath cracks, even the sharpest blade shatters."
Kuina inhaled, then bowed her head slightly. "I understand, Captain. I'll fix it."
"Good." Jin's smile returned, softer this time. "I trust you."
He shifted his attention to Hina. She immediately raised her hands. "Don't look at me like that. I've been training non-stop! My Moon Step's nearly perfect, and I can hold my breath for fifteen minutes underwater—"
"Then stop panicking every time I look at you," Jin interrupted, smirking.
Makino chuckled quietly. "He's not going to bite you, Hina. Relax."
"Oh, please," Hina shot back with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "You talk like you haven't been bitten before."
Makino blinked, then smiled in mock offense. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Hina grinned slyly. "You know exactly what I mean."
A slow grin spread across Jin's face as the two women traded barbs.
"I swear," he muttered, feigning exasperation, "you two are going to make me lose my pure, innocent heart."
Three objects flew at him instantly—Makino's sandal, Kuina's half-empty mug, and Hina's small knife.
"Pure heart, my ass!" they chorused.
The knife embedded itself next to his head with a thunk. Jin didn't even flinch, just grinned wider. "You girls are ruthless," he said. Then, glancing at Hina, he added mock-seriously, "And you—were you trying to assassinate me?"
Hina crossed her arms. "If I wanted to, you'd be dead already."
"Oh-ho!" Jin stood, placing a hand dramatically on his chest. "So it's treason then! A plot against your king!"
That earned him another barrage of laughter—and another mug thrown his way.
The night grew warmer as the conversation lightened.
Bellemere had long taken the girls home to rest, leaving only the older members lounging by the dying fire. The scent of roasted meat and ocean salt mixed with the night air.
Jin stretched, muscles rippling beneath his half-open shirt. "All jokes aside," he said, tone shifting, "there's something I've been preparing."
Hina's expression turned serious again. "Another experiment, isn't it?"
"Not exactly." Jin smirked. "A refinement."
He turned toward her. "You've been pushing your limits lately. That's good. But when you hit the threshold before Dark Force, your body starts breaking down faster. You'll need something to counteract that."
Makino leaned forward. "You found something?"
"Yeah." Jin's tone carried quiet pride. "A herb called Crimson Bloodgrass. I've been hunting it for weeks. With it, I can brew a formula that heals micro-tears and internal damage almost instantly. It's not a miracle—too much of it will make your body resistant—but five doses can carry you through hell and back."
Hina whistled low. "You're serious?"
"When am I not?" Jin replied, shrugging. "I'm not one for shortcuts. But this—this isn't one. It's a tool. A way to make sure you live to see another fight."
Makino smiled faintly. "Always the strategist."
"Always the paranoid bastard," Hina corrected with a grin. "You act like someone's out to get us."
Jin gave her a sideways glance. "People are out to get us. Always will be. That's why we keep getting stronger."
For a long moment, silence settled. Only the crackle of the fire remained. Then Makino shifted closer, her tone softer, more personal.
"You've been carrying the world on your shoulders since you were a kid, Jin. Maybe tonight, just for once, you can let go of that."
He looked at her, something flickering behind those deep amethyst eyes.
Then he smiled—the kind that made her chest tighten a little.
"Maybe," he said simply. "But if I did that, who'd keep you all safe?"
Makino chuckled quietly. "You'd be surprised what we can handle without you, Captain."
Jin tilted his head. "Oh? Should I test that theory?"
Her gaze met his. The moment lingered—soft, unspoken, electric.
It wasn't passion, not yet. Just a quiet warmth that spoke of trust and something deeper waiting beneath the surface.
Hina, of course, ruined the moment by throwing a stick at him.
"Stop flirting and tell us when we're leaving."
Jin laughed again, the tension breaking instantly. "Soon," he said. "Once the blade's finished. Once everything's ready."
He stood, stretching his arms toward the stars. "And when that day comes, we'll leave this sea behind. The Eternal Life will sail into the Grand Line—and the world will remember our names."
The others watched him in silence for a heartbeat, the firelight painting gold across his face.
Then Hina raised her mug. "To our crazy captain."
Kuina smirked. "To our impossible dreams."
Makino smiled. "To family."
Jin lifted his cup last, the faintest grin tugging at his lips. "To the fools who dare defy the world."
They clinked their cups together, laughter echoing beneath the stars.
And though none of them knew it yet… that night, on a quiet island in the East Blue, the legend of Jin Akasa—the man who cut down mountains and carved his name into the sea—had only just begun.
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T/N :
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