"How does it feel?!" Reno asked eagerly as the girls finished eating the Haki Fruits.
"I hear the wind outside!" Kaya exclaimed first, her voice full of delight.
"I hear it too!" Makino's big eyes sparkled. "My senses are so much sharper now."
The girls chimed in with their feedback, amazed.
"My hand—it's turning black!" Nami suddenly gasped.
The others looked at her. Her once fair palm was now pitch-black.
"It's so hard!" Nojiko reached out to pinch it but couldn't budge it. It was like steel.
Reno used his cloud powers to turn his arm into mist. "Try it."
Nami caught on, grabbing his arm and gripping it tightly. "I actually caught you!"
She stared in disbelief at the cloud in her hand—she'd grabbed Reno's true body.
"So that's how it works."
Tashigi, slow to catch up, finally understood. She realized why Reno could hit Smoker that day—it was Haki.
"With practice, both your Observation and Armament Haki will get stronger," Reno said seriously. "Nami, Tashigi—especially you two. No slacking in training. By the time we reach the Grand Line, I want to see progress."
Nami stuck out her tongue. "Got it."
"Captain, I'll work hard," Tashigi replied earnestly. Reno had done so much for her—she couldn't let him down.
Reno nodded, satisfied but firm. He had to be. The Grand Line was full of stronger enemies, and they needed to be ready. The whole crew couldn't rely on him alone.
"Kaya, Carue, Makino, Nojiko—train when you have time, based on your roles. It'll benefit you to have some self-defense."
The four non-combatants nodded obediently. They had clear roles in the crew, and Reno wasn't forcing them to fight—just to protect themselves.
"Oh, right." Reno turned to Nami. "Nami, tonight I need to see you alone."
"Huh?!" Nami glanced at the calendar, confused. "It's Wednesday. Shouldn't we be playing cards?"
At the mention of "cards," Nojiko and Makino blushed and lowered their heads. Where did Reno come up with these games? Three people? "Cards." Four people? "Mahjong." Six people? "Enough Level." What about seven or eight people?!
"I have actual business. What are you all thinking?!" Reno said, feigning a stern face and raising his hand.
The girls squealed and scattered, but Kaya and the others shot Nami teasing looks as they left. Maybe Reno had real business, but alone with a beauty like Nami? They didn't believe he'd behave.
…
Night fell, the moon hanging high.
Nami's Room
Reno pushed the door open gently. He found Nami wrapped tightly in her blanket, her face a mix of nerves, anticipation, and panic.
Reno sighed. "I've taught you so many times—do you have to act like I'm a thief?"
Nami stayed silent, her face reddening further. She pulled back the blanket.
Reno's eyes widened. What… is that lacy getup?! No wonder Nami was acting off. She must've bought it in Loguetown.
Who says my Nami only bickers with me? This is thoughtful as hell.
Reno stepped closer, playfully tapping her nose. "How many sets did you buy?"
Nami lowered her head, shyly murmuring, "A lot… different styles… maid outfits, nurse outfits… everything." By the end, her voice was barely a whisper, inaudible even to Reno.
Nice. She's got it all figured out. Nami had nailed every guy's fantasy.
"Teach Kaya and the others later. They're hopeless at this stuff," Reno teased.
Nami shot him a coy glance but nodded obediently. What would the refined Kaya look like in a maid outfit?
Ahem, getting sidetracked.
"Reno, what's the actual business?" Nami asked, suppressing her eagerness to "learn."
Reno smirked, pulling her close. "We'll get to that. First, let me teach you a new navigation technique—Reverse Digit Style."
With a beauty in his arms, who cared about business? Time to complete today's "task" first.
…
As usual, it lasted four hours. But this time, Reno had a new experience. Beyond the lacy outfit, Nami skillfully used her newly acquired "navigation skills," enhanced by her Wave Hand technique.
One word: phenomenal.
…
"Now can you tell me what's up?" Nami asked, fully restored by Kaya's healing powers. Without it, she'd probably lack the strength to even speak.
Reno didn't keep her waiting, pulling out a Conqueror's Haki Fruit. Unlike the others, this one was red.
"Another Devil Fruit?!" Nami gasped, covering her mouth.
Since joining the crew, she'd eaten three Devil Fruits—something most people never even saw once.
"Remember what I told you about Conqueror's Haki?"
Nami nodded, recalling his words: "You said Conqueror's Haki is one in a million. Anyone with it is a powerhouse. And it can't be learned—it's awakened naturally."
"Good memory." Reno rewarded her with a peck on the cheek. "Eat this, and you'll awaken Conqueror's Haki."
Nami didn't take it immediately, hesitating. "Do the others get one?"
Reno shook his head. "This is my favoritism for you, got it?"
Nami wrinkled her nose, touched to the point of tears. But she pushed the fruit back. "If the sisters don't get one, I won't eat it."
Reno looked at her, surprised. For the first time, he felt a different emotion toward Nami. He explained the real reason, reassuring her.
Relieved, Nami ate the Conqueror's Haki Fruit without hesitation. With that, she had awakened all three types of Haki!
…