Chapter 29 — A Date Above the World
Nami's POV
When Sunny said "I'll take you somewhere special," I expected a quiet island cove, maybe a hidden beach.
I did not expect him to grab my hand, smirk, and punch the sea so hard the boat launched into the sky.
My heart nearly stopped as the world blurred into blue and white. The boat rose higher, faster than I could scream. I clutched his arm—then realized he wasn't even worried. Not one bit.
"Relax," Sunny said, voice calm, steady, confident. His blue Haki shimmered around us like a shield, wrapping me in a warmth that felt stronger than any blanket. "I'll protect you. Always."
The words hit harder than the launch.
When we finally broke through the last veil of clouds, I gasped. The world stretched below us, oceans and islands like tiny brushstrokes on a painting. The clouds glowed gold with the sun. And here I was, floating above everything, standing beside the most infuriating, reckless, incredible boy I had ever met.
He looked at me then—not at the view, not at the sky. At me.
"Beautiful," he murmured.
My cheeks burned. "The view, you mean?" I tried to play it off.
But he leaned closer, eyes steady, lips curved in a daring smile.
"No. I meant you."
The air felt thin, but not from the height. My pulse thundered in my ears. I could smell him—the faint trace of salt and iron clinging to his skin, the clean sharpness of wind that always seemed to follow him. And beneath it… warmth. His warmth.
I hated how much I wanted to lean in closer
Sunny & Nami's POV
The small boat creaked as it cut through the clouds, not water. For a moment, Nami couldn't even breathe—not from lack of air, but because the view was impossible. The entire world was below her, seas and islands tiny specks. Above, nothing but endless blue, painted with drifting white clouds that looked close enough to touch.
Sunny stood tall at the helm, a grin tugging at his lips. Blue light shimmered faintly around his shoulders, wrapping both him and her in a protective glow. His Haki—a deep, calm blue, like a sky after rain.
"B-But… we're in the sky," Nami whispered, clutching the railing. Her voice wavered, though not entirely from fear.
Sunny's chest puffed with confidence. "You always chase horizons, don't you? I thought I'd show you one no map has drawn yet."
Her breath caught. Damn him. He said it so easily, so boldly—like carrying her into the sky was nothing but a casual date idea.
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Nami's POV
Her heart thumped louder than the waves far below. He smelled of salt and sun, but there was something else too—something sharp and electric, like the ozone after lightning. Every time his blue Haki flared, the air seemed to hum with it, brushing across her skin, across her lips.
And he was close. Too close.
"I… I should start charting this," she mumbled, pulling a parchment from her satchel. Hands trembling, she set her pen to the page, sketching the way clouds spiraled like continents of their own.
Sunny leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Even if you draw it… no one else can follow. This is just for you."
Her cheeks burned. He knew exactly what he was doing.
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Sunny's POV
He watched her hair shift in the breeze, orange strands brushing against his arm. She smelled faintly of tangerines, like Belle-mère's grove, but mixed with something sweeter, something that was just Nami. His hand twitched. He wanted to reach out, to tuck that loose strand behind her ear—
No, forget "wanted." He did it.
Nami froze, pen halting mid-stroke. Her eyes flicked to his. Gold-brown meeting calm blue.
Sunny let his lips tilt into a smirk. "You're blushing."
"Shut up!" she snapped, too fast, too defensive. Her pen nearly tore the paper.
He laughed, low and warm. "What? I can't say the truth?"
Her face went crimson. "Y-You—!"
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Nami's POV
He was insufferable. Absolutely insufferable. And yet—her chest tightened every time he leaned close, every time his fingers brushed hers when steadying the map. The warmth of his Haki seeped into her skin, like invisible hands holding her gently.
At one point, the boat rocked, and she stumbled—right into him. His arms caught her instantly, strong and steady, his chest a solid wall against her cheek.
"Careful," he murmured, voice low, teasing. "Or are you just looking for excuses to fall for me?"
Her heart stuttered. The worst part? For one dizzy second, she almost said yes.
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Sunny's POV
He could feel it—the way her pulse jumped when he touched her, the way her eyes darted down to his lips and then away. The date wasn't just working; it was sparking.
He lowered his voice, letting it rumble just enough: "Ara~ ara… Nami-san, you're trembling. Do I make you nervous?"
She slapped his arm, half embarrassed, half laughing. "Idiot."
But she didn't move away. Not really.
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The sky blazed orange as the sun set, casting fire across the ocean far below. Nami's half-finished map lay on her lap, ink smudged where her hand had lingered too long. She leaned against Sunny now, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.
"You know…" she whispered, softer than the wind, "if you keep showing me things like this… I might not let you go."
Sunny's grin softened. He let his hand find hers, fingers intertwining slowly, deliberately. "Good. Because I'm not planning to let you go either."
The world was silent around them, nothing but clouds and heartbeat.
Neither of them moved for the kiss. Not yet. But the air between them was thick, charged, so heavy with longing it felt like the slightest push would break the dam.