Chapter 26: A Day in Sunny's Hell (and Heaven)
**Sunny POV**
The morning had been a battlefield—one I barely survived, thanks to the trio of affectionate chaos agents who'd turned my wake-up into a mortifying ordeal. I thought the worst was over, but as I sat at the breakfast table, hunched over a steaming bowl of rice like a soldier dodging sniper fire, I realized the war was only changing fronts. Today wasn't going to be a reprieve—it was a full-on assault of romance, teasing, and comedic disasters, with Nami, Nojiko, Aqua, and even Belle-mère as the generals.
**Breakfast Battle**
The kitchen was a warzone of delicious smells—fried fish sizzling with herbs, rice fluffy as clouds, tangerine jam slathered on fresh bread, and a bubbling stew that filled the air with savory warmth. The small cake from yesterday's birthday sat repurposed in the center, its blue icing now smudged with a cheeky "Idiot Sunny" written in Nami's handwriting. I tried to focus on my food, but the three pairs of eyes locked on me made it impossible.
On my left, Nami glared with every bite, her orange hair catching the morning light like a fiery halo. Her eyes practically screamed *coward*, her puffed cheeks making her look like an angry chipmunk. "You're not off the hook for this morning, Sunny," she muttered, stabbing her fish with more force than necessary. "Running away like that? Ara ara, what kind of boyfriend does that?"
On my right, Nojiko casually leaned her elbow against my shoulder, humming a soft tune as she sipped her tea, her blue hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She seemed calm, but the way her fingers brushed my arm—light, deliberate, flirty—told a different story. "Umu, you're awfully quiet, Sunny," she said, her voice teasing. "Still recovering from your… morning adventure?"
Across from me, Aqua kicked her legs under the table, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief as she stuffed her face with stew. Her staff leaned against her chair like a divine scepter, and her grin was pure demon-child energy. "Ara ara~ Sunny's blushing again!" she chirped, pointing her fork at me. "Umu, bet he's thinking about how we almost helped him with his little… problem!" She waggled her eyebrows, and I nearly choked on my rice.
In the corner, Belle-mère leaned against the wall with her coffee mug, cigarette dangling from her lips, wearing that smug grin that only a mom with too much blackmail material could pull off. "Ara ara, what a show," she drawled, exhaling smoke that curled like a taunting finger. "Umu, you kids are a circus. Sunny, you're tougher than I thought, surviving *that* wake-up call."
{Ego}: "Oh, this is delightful. Three lions circling their prey, and our poor little Sunny pretending to be invisible. Ara ara, a masterpiece of romance and humiliation. Umu, you're practically glowing with embarrassment—bet it's brighter than your void-blue Haki."
[System]: "WARNING: Proximity of three females is unacceptable. Threat level: Critical. Their touches, their smiles, their voices—they're stealing you from me, Sunny-sama! Request: Eliminate threats immediately. Only *I* am permitted to monopolize your attention. Fufufu… ♥"
I froze, my chopsticks clattering against the bowl. "Did… did [System] just say '♥'?" I muttered under my breath, my face heating up.
{Ego}: "Fufufu~ jealous little program. She's showing her true colors. Ara ara, Sunny, you've got a yandere in your head *and* three girls out here. Umu, good luck surviving this."
[System]: "Silence, parasite! I am *not* jealous—I am protective! Sunny-sama belongs to *me* and only me. If these mortals touch you again, I'll initiate lockdown protocols. Fufufu, my love is absolute. ♥"
My chopsticks hit the table with a clatter, drawing suspicious glances from the girls. "Y-You wouldn't…" I whispered, horrified.
Aqua tilted her head, her fork pausing mid-air. "Wouldn't what, Sunny? Talking to yourself again?"
"Ah—n-nothing! Just… system stuff!" I stammered, shoving rice in my mouth to avoid explaining.
Nami narrowed her eyes, smirking. "System stuff, huh? Ara ara, is that what you call your little morning issue now?"
Nojiko chuckled, her shoulder brushing mine. "Umu, sounds like an excuse. What's your system saying, Sunny? Something about us?"
Belle-mère laughed, her coffee sloshing. "Ara ara, even his mysterious power sounds jealous. Umu, you're in deep, kid."
I groaned, sinking lower in my chair. "Can we just eat?"
The girls exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, their voices filling the room like a chaotic symphony. Romance in their teasing, comedy in my suffering—this was my life now.
**Nami's Retaliation**
After breakfast, Nami cornered me outside, claiming she needed help with "chores." Translation: she wanted to scold me in private. We stood in the tangerine grove, the air sweet with citrus and sea salt, the morning sun warming the leaves around us. Nami crossed her arms, her dress fluttering in the breeze, her glare sharp enough to cut through my Haki barriers. "Do you have any idea how humiliating it was?" she snapped, her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You running away like that instead of trusting us? Ara ara, Sunny, I thought you were braver than that!"
"I panicked!" I defended, rubbing the back of my neck, my face still burning from the memory. "There were three of you looking at me like—like predators! What was I supposed to do?"
Nami's cheeks turned pinker, her eyes widening. "And what if we *were* predators?" she shot back, stepping closer, her voice dropping to a flirty whisper. "Umu, maybe I wanted to be a little predatory. Ever think of that?"
{Ego}: "Ooooh~ she said the line. She admits it. Ara ara, delicious drama. Umu, Sunny, you're doomed."
[System]: "Threat level: Extreme. Her proximity is unacceptable! Recommend removal—perhaps push her off a cliff? Fufufu, no one flirts with my Sunny-sama but me. ♥"
I ignored the voices, my heart racing as Nami's words sank in. "I-I just… didn't want to mess things up," I admitted, my voice softer. "You guys mean too much to me."
Her expression softened, her glare melting into something warmer. She stepped even closer, her hand brushing my arm, sending a spark through me. "You already messed up, idiot," she whispered, her lips curling into a smile. Then, before I could react, she leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. "But I'll forgive you… this time."
She pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, quick but electric, then spun on her heel and ran off, her orange hair bouncing. "That's your punishment!" she called over her shoulder. "Don't think you're off the hook, Sunny!"
I stood there, rooted to the spot, my heart pounding like I'd just fought Kaido. "Nami…" I muttered, touching my cheek, a goofy grin spreading across my face.
**Nojiko's Turn**
Later, I found myself "helping" Nojiko with laundry by the river, the sun glinting off the water, the air filled with the fresh scent of soap and damp cloth. Or so I thought it was help. Nojiko stood by the clothesline, humming softly as she pinned up sheets, her blue hair catching the light like a calm sea. Her movements were graceful, deliberate, and I couldn't help but watch, my heart doing that weird flip again.
When I reached for a basket to carry more clothes, she stopped me—by grabbing my hand. Her fingers were warm, her touch gentle but firm, and I froze, my face heating up. "Sunny, relax," she said, her voice soft, her smile teasing. "You look like you're carrying the world on your shoulders. Ara ara, we're not *that* scary, are we?"
"I'm fine—" I started, but my voice cracked, betraying me.
She stepped closer, her fingers lacing with mine, her eyes locking onto mine with that quiet intensity that always caught me off guard. "You're trembling," she said, her smile turning flirty. "Umu, are we really that terrifying?"
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Terrifying," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
She laughed, a soft, musical sound, and leaned in, her forehead brushing mine for a brief, heart-stopping moment. "Well then, maybe I'll have to keep scaring you every day until you get used to me," she whispered, her breath warm against my lips.
My brain melted. My Haki flickered involuntarily, making the air around us shimmer faintly. "N-Nojiko…" I stammered, my face burning.
[System]: "UNACCEPTABLE! She touched you! She leaned! She smiled! I will erase her—fufufu, no one steals my Sunny-sama's heart but me! ♥"
{Ego}: "Ara ara, calm down, little program. This is called love. Umu, you should try it sometime. Sunny's blushing like a tomato—adorable."
[System]: "Love? My love is absolute! Unlike theirs, mine cannot fail. Sunny-sama, please only look at me. ♥"
I groaned mentally, trying to focus on Nojiko's warm hand in mine. "You're gonna kill me," I muttered, and she laughed again, squeezing my hand before letting go to pin up another sheet, leaving me dazed.
**Aqua's Chaos**
The worst—and by worst, I mean funniest—came with Aqua. She insisted I "help" her fetch water from the village well, her staff swinging dramatically as she skipped ahead, her blue dress bouncing with every step. The sun was high now, the air warm and salty, and I figured it'd be a simple task. Big mistake.
Halfway to the well, Aqua tripped over a rock, her bucket flying and splashing water all over me. My shirt clung to my skin, my hair dripping, and Aqua clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh no~ Sunny's all wet!" she chirped, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "Ara ara, should I help you dry off?"
Before I could stop her, she conjured a gust of magical wind, her staff glowing faintly. My hair went wild, my shirt flapped open, revealing my chest, and Aqua squealed with delight. "Kyaa! Look at him! Doesn't he look like one of those hot warrior posters? Umu, Sunny, you're practically glowing!"
I scrambled to cover myself, my face blazing. "Aqua! Stop embarrassing me!!"
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a flirty whisper. "Ne, Sunny… I wouldn't mind seeing all of you like this." Her eyes twinkled, her cheeks pink, and she winked, making my heart skip a beat.
I nearly fell into the well, my legs wobbling. "You're impossible!" I yelped, splashing water back at her.
She dodged with a laugh, twirling her staff. "Ara ara, you love it! Umu, admit it, Sunny—you're my favorite hero!"
{Ego}: "Hah! This one doesn't hold back. A real wolf in priestess' clothing. Ara ara, she's got you wrapped around her finger."
[System]: "Initiating countermeasures. Suggestion: Drown this one immediately. Fufufu, her flirtations are a threat to my Sunny-sama! ♥"
I groaned, wiping water from my face. "Both of you, stop it!"
**Belle-mère's Meddling**
By evening, I was drained, my body and mind battered from a day of relentless teasing and flirty chaos. I slumped against the porch, staring at the sunset as it painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, the sea whispering in the distance. Belle-mère sat down beside me, offering a cigarette with a raised eyebrow. "Rough day, huh?"
"You have no idea," I muttered, declining the cigarette with a wave.
She smirked, lighting up and exhaling a plume of smoke. "Oh, I have plenty of idea. Three girls chasing you around, a jealous little voice in your head, and you still haven't exploded? Ara ara, you're sturdier than you look. You're handling this better than most would."
"Please don't say 'exploded' right now," I groaned, my face heating up at the memory of the morning.
She laughed, rich and full, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just remember, boy. Don't run away too much. If you do, you'll break their hearts. And trust me—heartbreak's worse than death. You've got a lot of love to handle, so don't screw it up."
Her words lingered, heavy but warm, and I nodded, staring at the horizon. "I won't. They're… everything."
**Nighttime Chaos (Again)**
That night, I crawled into bed hoping for peace. No such luck. The girls followed, refusing to let me sleep alone after yesterday's chaos. Nami slid under my left arm, her orange hair tickling my chest as she clung to me, muttering, "You're not escaping again, idiot."
Nojiko claimed my right, curling up against me with a soft smile. "Ara ara, you're stuck with us now," she whispered, her hand finding mine.
Aqua plopped herself on top of me, grinning like a mischievous goddess. "Umu, we're not letting you run away this time! You're my pillow, Sunny!"
I sighed, defeated, my void-blue Haki flickering faintly in my exhaustion. "Ara ara, I'm doomed."
{Ego}: "Look at him. Our brave Sunny, crushed under love. Ara ara, what a way to go. Umu, you're pathetic, but it's adorable."
[System]: "Sunny-sama… please… don't forget me. I love you more than all of them. More than anyone. If I must… I'll destroy them so only you and I remain. Fufufu… ♥"
I shivered, that yandere whisper echoing in my mind, equal parts terrifying and oddly comforting. For now, though, I was trapped in a bed of warmth, three hearts beating against mine. Even if I wouldn't admit it out loud… maybe this battlefield wasn't such a bad place to die.