Chapter 44 — Let's Get a Proper Ship & Usopp
(Sunny POV)
Orange Town's air still smelled faintly of gunpowder and confetti, but the streets were already alive with laughter again. The townsfolk had emerged after Buggy's defeat, and the mayor himself waddled up, beaming through his bushy mustache.
"You've saved us!" he declared, shaking Lucy's hand so hard her straw hat nearly flew off. "Please, take whatever you need. Food, supplies, and—if you'll stay the night—our finest rooms!"
Lucy pumped a fist. "YES! Beds that aren't made of wood and tears!"
Zoro just grunted, already asking if he could sleep in the corner with his swords. I swear the man was half-feral.
By morning, the people of Orange Town had stocked our little boat with fruits, dried meat, and barrels of water. As the mayor waved us off, Lucy shouted something dramatic about returning "to eat all their food again someday."
The sea breeze slapped me awake as we drifted away from port. For the first time in days, things felt peaceful.
That peace lasted three minutes.
"Sunny," Nami said, leaning on the rail beside me, "we can't keep sailing in this excuse for a boat." She gestured at the creaky deck, which groaned in protest as Lucy stomped across it yelling for meat. "If we want to actually survive the Grand Line, we need a proper ship."
"Agreed," I said, watching Lucy try to sit on the mast like it was a chair. "And more crew."
Zoro stretched out like a cat in the sun. "As long as there's space to nap, I don't care."
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose. "Practical as always." Then she turned back to me, lowering her voice. "But you're right. Nojiko's good, but with Lucy eating like that—"
"—we'll need another chef," I finished, smirking.
Her lips curved in amusement. "Finally, you admit it. I thought you'd try to say your inventory could handle it forever."
I shrugged. "My Haki can crush a warlord, sure. But it can't stop Lucy from inhaling an entire pantry."
Lucy, mid-chew, turned to us. "HEY! I heard that! And I'm still hungry!"
Zoro groaned. "We literally left port five minutes ago."
The comedy of it all made Nami lean into my shoulder, her laughter warm. "Another chef it is. Though good luck finding one insane enough to cook for Lucy."
{ego}: Weaklings cooking for weaklings. Pathetic. Master, you deserve divine meals, not slop made for gluttons.
[system]: Recruiting a culinary specialist would optimize resource distribution. Also: agreed. Lucy = food black hole.
I chuckled to myself. My brain was basically a comedy duo I never asked for.
By afternoon, the horizon split open to reveal Syrup Village, a quiet, picture-perfect town with white houses, green hills, and a coastline that looked almost too peaceful.
"Wow," Nami murmured. "Almost looks… boring."
"Perfect place to hide something shady," I said, my Observation Haki brushing faint ripples of ill intent in the distance.
Lucy was already off the boat, sprinting into the village square and yelling, "WHERE'S THE FOOD?!" The locals froze, unsure if she was a starving child or a demon.
Zoro dragged a hand down his face. "Why do I feel like everywhere we go, we look like invaders?"
Before I could answer, a shout rang out:
"PIRATES! THE PIRATES ARE COMING!"
A lanky kid with a long nose sprinted down the street, waving his arms like a maniac. "HUNDREDS OF THEM! ARMORED, BLOODTHIRSTY, READY TO RAZE THIS TOWN!"
The villagers panicked—until Lucy gasped dramatically. "HUNDREDS? WHERE?!" She pointed at the horizon. "WAIT, DID YOU SEE THE DRAGON TOO?!"
The boy froze mid-sprint. "Eh?"
She doubled down. "Yeah, yeah! Big dragon! Spits fire, bigger than a house! It's coming with the pirates!"
The kid's eyes widened. "Y-you saw it too?!"
I sighed. "Great. They're speaking the same language."
Zoro groaned. "We're doomed."
Nami crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Who is this liar?"
The boy puffed his chest. "I'm Usopp! The brave warrior of the sea!"
Lucy gasped like he'd just announced he was the Pirate King. "A brave warrior! WE NEED HIM!"
Zoro deadpanned. "We don't need him."
Nami's expression softened slightly. "Wait. Did you say… warrior of the sea? Like… your father?"
Usopp blinked, caught off guard. "Y-you know Yasopp?"
I smirked but didn't answer. Let the boy keep some pride.
That night, camped on a hill overlooking the village, Usopp sat near the fire, spinning wild tales about giants, dragons, and his countless victories against imaginary foes. Lucy hung onto every word like gospel.
Nami rolled her eyes but leaned against me, half-listening while sketching maps. "If we do recruit him, at least he'll keep Lucy distracted."
Zoro snorted. "Or make her dumber."
{ego}: Another liar in the crew? Disgraceful. Weakness breeds weakness.
[system]: Correction: his utility as sniper/support = high. Lying subroutine = tolerable.
I let their voices fade, watching Nami work. The firelight danced across her face, highlighting the smirk she gave me when she caught me staring.
"You're thinking it too," she said softly. "We'll need him. And a real ship."
I reached over, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "And a chef."
Her smile widened. "Exactly."
Lucy, blissfully oblivious, was currently snoring face-first into the dirt while Usopp narrated her "epic battle against fifty tigers."
Zoro, lying on his back, muttered, "I'm surrounded by lunatics." Then he promptly fell asleep.
I exhaled slowly, feeling the calm before the storm. Tomorrow, we'd meet Kaya. Tomorrow, the real test of Syrup Village would begin.
But tonight, with Nami's warmth at my side, the future felt a little less heavy.