**Chapter 24: The Idiot Finally Comes Back – A Chaotic, Romantic, and Explosive Reunion**
**Nami's POV**
Thirty days. A measly thirty days without Sunny, but each one felt like an eternity stuck on a deserted island with nothing but tangerines and a broken compass. I'd told myself I wouldn't cry. I was Nami, the sharp-witted navigator who could steal a pirate's treasure without blinking and chart a storm's path with a smirk. Crying over one reckless, grinning idiot who vanished into thin air? Not my style. I was tougher than that. Smarter. Too mature for tears.
But then I saw him. That familiar silhouette appeared on the horizon, striding toward Cocoyasi Village with the sunset blazing behind him like he'd staged the whole thing for drama. His messy hair caught the golden light, his shoulders broad and steady, his aura radiating that quiet, unshakable strength. My throat tightened, my eyes burned, and before I knew it, hot tears were streaming down my cheeks, betraying every ounce of my carefully crafted composure.
"Idiot… idiot… *IDIOT!!*" I screamed, my voice cracking as I broke into a sprint. My sandals slapped the dirt path, kicking up clouds of dust that swirled like a storm. Villagers froze mid-step—Old Man Genzo dropped his market basket, Mrs. Taro gaped with a fish dangling from her hand—but I didn't care. My orange ponytail whipped wildly, my dress fluttering as I ran faster than I ever had during a heist. How *dare* he leave us without a word? How *dare* he stroll back like he'd just gone for a quick swim?
My heart was a mess, pounding with a mix of fury, relief, and something softer I didn't want to name. I launched myself at him like a cannonball, tackling him with such force we both crashed to the sandy shore in a tangle of limbs. My arms wrapped around his neck in a death grip, my face buried in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of sea salt, sweat, and that indefinable Sunny-ness. His shirt was rough and warm under my cheek, and I pounded his sides with my fists—not hard, just enough to vent. "You vanish without a word, leave us all worried sick, and just waltz back like it's nothing?!" I sobbed, my voice muffled against him. "Do you know how many times I checked the horizon? How many maps I drew just to keep busy? You owe me, Sunny! Big time!"
Sunny let out a startled laugh, his arms wrapping around me—hesitant at first, then tight, like he was anchoring himself to the moment. "Nami… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's a long story."
His voice was deeper, rougher, like he'd aged years in those thirty days. Or maybe it was just the emotion making everything feel heavier. I pulled back just enough to glare at him through my tears, my hands still clutching his shirt. "A long story? It better be the best damn story I've ever heard, or I'll chart a course to kick your butt across the East Blue!"
He grinned—that infuriating, sunny grin that made my heart do acrobatics—and reached out, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb. The touch was gentle, sending a warm spark through me that made my blush worse. "Deal," he said, his eyes soft. "But first… thanks for missing me."
I huffed, punching his arm lightly. "Who said I missed you? I was just… bored without my favorite distraction."
"Liar," he teased, his voice warm, his blue Haki flickering faintly in his eyes like a blue sea.
Before I could fire back, impulse took over. I leaned in and kissed him—hard, desperate, my lips pressing against his with all the pent-up worry, relief, and that stupid crush I'd tried to bury. It was salty from my tears, warm from his breath, and so very *real*. His eyes widened in shock, but he didn't pull away, his hand cupping my cheek as he kissed back, soft but sure.
The world faded—the crashing waves, the villagers' gasps, the sunset's glow—all drowned out by the thud of my heart.
**Aqua's POV**
I'd been rehearsing this reunion for *weeks*. In my head, it was perfect: Sunny would appear on the horizon, the world would slow to a cinematic crawl, and I'd glide toward him like the goddess of fate, my blue hair flowing like ocean waves, my dress billowing dramatically. I'd throw my arms around him, plant a long, passionate kiss—maybe even a little tongue, because Aqua-sama doesn't do things halfway—and he'd melt under my divine charm. Stars would align, the sea would sing, and it'd be a moment for the ages.
So when I saw him—*my* Sunny—silhouetted against the sunset, his aura radiating that void-blue Haki that made my heart skip, I activated my plan. I took my first step, my lips trembling, my eyes softening with divine longing. "Sunny…" I whispered, my voice a perfect mix of sultry and teasing, ready for my grand entrance.
But then—*WHOOSH!*—Nami streaked past me like a damn lightning bolt, her orange hair a blur as she tackled Sunny to the sand. I froze mid-step, my dramatic pose turning into a statue of pure shock, my jaw dropping so far I swear it hit the ground. "W-WHAT?!"
Nami was screaming "IDIOT!" at the top of her lungs, sobbing as she clung to him, her fists pounding his sides. And then—*THEN*—she kissed him. Hard. Passionate. Like she'd been planning it for years. My brain short-circuited, my goddess-level composure shattered. The reunion I'd choreographed for thirty days was stolen by the orange-thief herself!
"EXCUSE ME?!" I shrieked, my voice echoing across the beach. Villagers turned to stare, but I was too busy combusting with jealousy. My cheeks burned hotter than Prometheus on a bad day.
Nojiko, strolling up calmly, patted my shoulder as she passed. "Better move, goddess. The race has already started," she said, her voice dripping with amusement, her blue hair catching the sunset's glow.
That snapped me out of my stupor. "R-RACE?!" I wailed, stomping my foot so hard I sent a tiny water spout shooting up from the sand. "This was supposed to be *my* moment! I'm the goddess here! I'm supposed to get the dramatic kiss!" My heart raced with a mix of outrage and desperation. I'd spent thirty days practicing water spells to impress him, and now Nami was stealing the show?
**Nojiko's POV**
Unlike Nami's dramatic tackle or Aqua's frozen meltdown, I kept my cool—or at least, I tried to. Seeing Sunny return, his familiar grin lighting up the beach, his messy hair glowing in the sunset, stirred something deep in my chest. I'd missed him more than I'd ever admit out loud. His chaos was like oxygen, filling the village with energy, making even the quiet moments feel alive. Without him, the days had been too orderly, too predictable.
I walked toward him, stepping past Aqua's indignant flailing with a small smirk. Sunny was still tangled with Nami on the sand, her arms locked around his neck like she'd never let go. His face was red, his eyes wide from her kiss, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of warmth. He looked overwhelmed but happy, his blue Haki flickering faintly like a starry night.
I stopped in front of him, meeting his gaze. "You kept us waiting," I said softly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips—slow, warm, a contrast to Nami's fiery passion. It was my way of saying what words couldn't: I missed you. I'm glad you're here. His breath hitched, and I pulled back with a shy smile, my cheeks faintly pink.
Sunny blinked, caught between Nami's cling and my kiss, his face now a hilarious shade of crimson. "N-Nojiko… I…"
Before he could finish, Aqua exploded into motion. "HANDS OFF, ORANGE THIEVES!" she shrieked, diving forward like a blue-haired missile. "THIS IS MY SUNNY!"
**Belle-mère's POV**
I stood back, arms crossed, cigarette dangling from my lips as I watched the chaos unfold on the beach. Sunny—that reckless, kind-hearted brat—had vanished without a word, sucked into some cosmic nonsense by that troll RBG. Thirty days of worry had gnawed at me, pacing the porch at night, staring at the sea like it held answers. Mothers don't cry in front of their kids, but seeing him there, alive and breathing, made my eyes sting despite my best efforts.
I marched forward, my slippers kicking up sand, and smacked him lightly on the head—more affection than discipline. "Don't you *ever* disappear on us again, brat!" I barked, my voice gruff to mask the tremble in my chest.
Sunny rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, Belle-mère. Won't happen again."
I pulled him into a quick hug, ruffling his hair roughly to hide how much I'd missed him. "Welcome home, kid. Dinner's waiting—and you're not off the hook for chores."
He laughed, hugging back, his warmth grounding me. "Wouldn't dream of it."
**Ego & System POV**
Inside Sunny's mind, {Ego} and [System] were having their own reactions to the reunion chaos.
{Ego}, arms crossed with her signature tsundere scowl, muttered, "Tch. Look at them, crying and kissing all over you. Don't think this makes you special or anything… I only worried a *little*, okay? Idiot Sunny. If you'd died for real, I'd have mocked you for eternity."
[System], her voice a velvet purr of yandere obsession, giggled darkly. "Fufufu… look how desperate they were without you, Master Sunny. All clinging, all crying, all *yours*. You belong to no one but us, but… I suppose sharing with these mortals is acceptable. For now. Your void-blue glow is divine."
Sunny's mental voice groaned. "You two are as weird as ever. Can you at least let me enjoy this without commentary?"
{Ego}: "Hmph. No promises."
[System]: "Never, my Sunny."
**The Reunion**
We piled into Belle-mère's house, the air thick with the scent of tangerine stew, fresh bread, and the faint smokiness of her cigarette. The table was set for a feast, a silent welcome-home gift from Belle-mère. Sunny sat at the center, looking both overwhelmed and at peace, his void-blue Haki flickering faintly as he relaxed. We demanded answers, and he gave them, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of his story.
"RBG pulled me into a training dimension," he explained, spooning stew onto his plate. "Six months for me, but only thirty days here. I fought… monsters. Kaido, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Shanks, Jiro. Ten times stronger than their primes. I died hundreds of times, but each death made me stronger. My Haki… it's different now. I mastered Air Crunch, Space Crunch, even a Haki Domain where my will is law."
Nami's eyes widened, her fork frozen mid-bite. "You fought *Emperors*? And Jiro from… wherever he's from? And died hundreds of times?!"
Aqua pouted, crossing her arms. "And you didn't take *me*?! I'm a goddess, Sunny! I could've drowned them in holy water!"
Nojiko smiled quietly, her eyes warm. "You're incredible, Sunny. But… don't scare us like that again."
Belle-mère snorted, exhaling smoke. "Incredible? He's reckless. But I'm proud, kid."
Sunny grinned, his blue eyes softening. "I'm sorry I worried you all. To make it up… I'll take each of you on proper dates. One by one. My promise."
The room went silent, then exploded into chaos.
Nami blushed scarlet. "D-DATE?!"
Aqua squealed, nearly knocking over her water glass. "YES! Me first! Goddess privilege!"
Nojiko's smile turned sly. "I'd like that. But don't expect me to go easy on you."
Belle-mère facepalmed, muttering, "Chaos. Pure chaos. I need a stronger cigarette."
**That Night**
Belle-mère's protests—"No funny business under my roof!"—were half-hearted at best, and we ignored them. Sunny wasn't sleeping alone tonight, not after thirty days of absence. So, in his cramped bedroom, he found himself smothered under Nami, Aqua, and Nojiko, each of us clingier than the last. We'd somehow decided that lacy lingerie was the perfect "welcome back" sleepwear—Nami in a peach-colored set that hugged her curves, Aqua in a blue ensemble that shimmered like water, and me in a soft green top that made Sunny's eyes widen in panic.
Nami curled against his left side, her head on his chest, her hand intertwined with his. "Don't leave again, idiot," she mumbled in her sleep, her breath warm against his skin.
Aqua draped herself over his torso like a possessive cat, her leg hooked over his, muttering, "Mine…" with a sleepy pout, her cheek pressed to his heart.
I hugged his right arm, my fingers tracing small circles on his hand, a quiet smile on my lips as I watched him squirm.
Sunny lay stiff as a board, his face redder than Red-Haired Shanks' cloak, his blue eyes wide with a mix of horror and delight. "This… this is too much," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I can crush mountains with Haki, but *this* is gonna kill me."
Outside, Belle-mère leaned against the wall, eavesdropping with a smirk. "He's in for a hell of a night," she muttered, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Serves him right for worrying us."
Inside his head, {Ego} sighed dramatically. "Pathetic. You look utterly ridiculous, Sunny. Get a grip—or don't, and let these mortals drown you in chaos."
[System] giggled, her voice dripping with obsession. "Fufufu… but this ridiculousness is why I love him. Sleep well, my Sunny. Tomorrow, the dates begin, and I'll be watching."
Sunny closed his eyes, overwhelmed but smiling, the warmth of home wrapping around him like a blanket. "Home sweet chaos," he murmured, drifting off amidst the tangle of affection.