Chapter 45 — A Doctor's Hands, A Friend's Heart
Sunny's POV
Arrival at Kaya's Mansion
The gates of the mansion loomed tall, guarded not by warriors but by silence and wealth. Usopp marched proudly at the front, pointing like a commander leading an army.
"Behold! Kaya's grand estate, where even the windows are polished with diamond dust!"
Lucy squinted. "They're just… shiny glass, though."
"Details!" Usopp barked.
The front door opened before he could spin another tall tale. Out stepped a tall man in a crisp black butler suit, thin glasses perched on his nose. His gaze was sharp, his smile sharpest of all.
"Master Usopp," he said with mocking courtesy. "What a… surprise. Bringing vagabonds and pirates to the lady's home? You never fail to amuse."
Usopp's chest deflated. "They're not vagabonds! They're my friends!"
The butler's eyes swept over us, lingering on Zoro's swords, Lucy's grin, and finally me. His nose wrinkled like he'd smelled rot. "And this one… trouble written all over him."
I tilted my head, offering my best harmless smile. "Afternoon."
{Ego}: Tch. Who does this twig think he is, looking down on us? I could crush him with one finger. Honestly, Sunny-boy, why not?
[System]: Elimination request received. Permission to terminate?
I sighed inwardly. "No, no killing. Yet."
The butler sneered. "The young lady doesn't need ruffians like you near her. You'll upset her health. Especially you." He jabbed a finger toward me. "Those eyes of yours—nothing but a delinquent's gaze."
My smile didn't move. But for one heartbeat, just one, I let the illusion slip.
His vision filled with me—me as a shadow, smile carved too wide, eyes glinting with malice that promised slow, inevitable death. My aura wrapped around his throat like a cold chain.
And then—gone.
The butler staggered half a step back, sweat breaking along his hairline. He blinked, tried to compose himself, adjusted his glasses. Nobody else had noticed.
Lucy tilted her head. "Huh? You okay, mister?"
"N-nothing," he said too quickly. "This way."
{Ego}: Heh. Look at him sweat. One little glare and he's already pissing himself. Pathetic.
[System]: Pathetic humans should never insult Master. He should have been erased. Next time, let me cut his tongue.
"Down, both of you," I muttered under my breath.
Zoro gave me a glance. "What?"
"Nothing. Just… allergies."
The butler led us reluctantly inside, his hands trembling slightly behind his back. Every time his gaze brushed me, his throat bobbed, like he was reminding himself to breathe.
Usopp frowned, confused but determined. "Kaya will want to see me! And them! Especially him!" He pointed at me. "Because he can help!"
The butler's jaw tightened. "We'll see about that."
But he didn't stop us. Couldn't stop us.
Kaya's mansion felt too quiet, too fragile, like the house itself had caught her illness. The polished floors, the drawn curtains, the careful hush of servants—it was all built to protect a girl who didn't deserve to suffer.
And now, she lay in her bed, pale and coughing, a smile forced on her lips as if to reassure everyone else.
"Usopp, you brought friends," Kaya whispered, her voice barely stronger than a breeze.
Usopp puffed out his chest, trying to look braver than he felt. "Of course! These are my—my crew! We're pirates, mighty ones, who'll shake the world!"
Lucy giggled at his exaggeration. Zoro grunted. Nami gave him a flat look.
And me? I was already by Kaya's bedside, kneeling.
Her eyes widened. "Ah… y-you're…"
I smiled gently. "Don't worry. I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to fix you."
Usopp blinked. "Wait, fix her? Like… really fix her?!"
Lucy leaned in. "Sunny can fix almost anything! He once glued a crab back together after Zoro sat on it!"
"Oi," Zoro muttered, but didn't deny it.
Kaya laughed weakly, then broke into another cough. That sound—it gnawed at me. I'd heard too many like it in my travels.
System: Target identified: fragile constitution. Diagnosis—chronic respiratory weakness, worsened by stress and poison exposure. Recommended solution: Knocking restoration, Jirō-style, with full Haki regulation.
Ego: Heh. Time to flex, Sunny-boy. Show them the hands of a god, not just a fighter.
I cracked my knuckles. "Kaya. Do you trust me?"
Her eyes lingered on Usopp, then came back to me. "If Usopp does… then yes."
Usopp looked torn between pride and panic. But he nodded. "Yeah. Sunny's… different. He can do things."
"Good answer," I said, and placed two fingers on Kaya's neck.
The Knocking Procedure
I closed my eyes, letting Haki flow like gentle waves. My fingers tapped with impossible precision, targeting nerves, blood flow, organ pressure points—every vital rhythm of her body.
Tap. Tap-tap. Pause. Adjust. Tap.
To everyone else, it might've looked like I was playing an instrument on her body. But inside, I was carefully re-tuning her life.
Kaya gasped softly. "W-warm…"
"Don't fight it," I said softly. "Breathe. Just breathe."
Her color returned little by little, pink seeping into her cheeks. The trembling in her fingers eased. Her lungs stopped rattling like broken glass.
Lucy's mouth dropped. "It's like magic!"
Zoro crossed his arms. "Not magic. Just him being ridiculous."
Nami's lips curled. "Yeah. Overpowered idiot."
System: Patient stabilized. Longevity potential: restored. Fragility status: corrected. Note—avoid excessive emotional stress or pirate invasions.
Ego: Ha! Look at her glow. Not bad, eh Sunny-boy? She'll live a proper life now. Remember—doctors heal, gods rewrite.
I opened my eyes. Kaya stared at me, wide-eyed and teary. "I… I can breathe… I don't feel heavy anymore…"
"You're fine now," I said, leaning back. "Eat properly, walk outside, live your life. You're not a glass doll."
She burst into tears, covering her face.
Usopp panicked. "K-Kaya!? Did he break you?! I swear, if you—"
Kaya shook her head and pulled Usopp into a hug. "No! I'm happy, Usopp. I'm alive… thanks to your friend."
Usopp froze, face beet red.
Teasing Time
I smirked. Couldn't resist. "Oho? What's this? Hugging, tears, dramatic declarations… you two sure you're not secretly boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Usopp nearly exploded. "WHA—NO! I mean—I—she's—I—"
Kaya, cheeks pink, whispered, "Maybe… someday."
That shut him up. Completely.
Lucy squealed. "Kyaaa! So cute!" She grabbed Zoro's arm. "Did you hear that? Did you hear that?!"
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Lovebirds. Whatever."
Nami elbowed me sharply. "Don't tease them too hard, idiot. They're kids."
"Hey, I'm not teasing," I grinned. "Just predicting the future. Pretty sure I'm right."
Usopp buried his face in his hands. "Why do I feel like this is worse than all my lies coming true at once…"
Kaya's Gratitude
Later, Kaya sat up properly for the first time in months, servants fussing around her. She insisted they stop and bowed her head to me.
"Sunny… I owe you everything. Please, if there's anything I can do—"
I waved her off. "Don't even start. Save that gratitude for him." I pointed at Usopp, who was still sulking. "He's the reason I even tried."
Usopp blinked. "M-me?"
"Yeah." I ruffled his hair. "Your stories kept her alive this long. I just gave her a push. You did the hard part."
Usopp's jaw worked soundlessly. Then, for once, he just… smiled.
System: Emotional bonds detected. Crew potential: increasing. Probability of Usopp joining party: extremely high.
Ego: Good. The weakling will grow strong. But ha! Sunny-boy, you're playing matchmaker now?
Closing Scene
As night fell, Kaya leaned out her window, looking at the stars. Usopp stood beside her, unusually quiet.
I sat with Lucy and Nami on the lawn, sipping tea that Zoro had spiked with sake when no one was looking.
Lucy nudged me. "So… you really fixed her?"
"Of course," I said. "She'll be fine now."
Nami's voice was softer. "You always… do that. Like it's nothing."
Ego: Because to us, it IS nothing. But for them, it's everything. Remember that.
I smiled at Nami, then at the stars. Another life saved. Another step forward.
Tomorrow would bring new battles, new laughs, new troubles. But tonight, I was content.