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The freeze-frame held on Roger, hearts in his eyes at Shakky's heels, and the barrage flooded the screen like confetti:
"Good grief everyone's losing it. Shakky's charm is off the charts."
"Left hand of the Pirate King Scopper Gaban goes weak just hearing the name?!"
"Roger folded in two seconds. Where's the future Pirate King aura now?"
"She walks out and the entire deck turns down bad."
"Hancock's fruit doesn't hit this many all at once."
"Be honestcdid Shakky eat the Charm-Charm Fruit?"
"Roger is the purest case of repressed romantic I've ever seen."
"Like Gloriosa said this isn't the first time he's chased them down."
"He 'charged' to avenge Gaban? More likely to steal a moment up close."
"Look at his face tell me he didn't enjoy getting floored."
"Epic faceplant. Dude probably inhaled the scenery while he was down there."
"And from that angle… You know he saw premium content."
"Verdict: he dove on purpose. Anything for more 'screen time.'"
"So Roger's basically Freshman Roger hopeless simp 101."
The chat ignited.
[Rocks D. Xebec]: "Tsk, tsk. That look suits you, Roger humiliating."
[Edward Newgate]: "Gurarara~ Throwing yourself at a kick just to get closer? Pathetic."
[Shiki]: "Kekekeh~ I was crazy for Shakky too, but I had standards."
[Shanks]: "…Captain was like this?"
[Buggy]: "This is not the Roger in my head."
[Gol D. Roger]: "???????? That's slander! I am not that guy!"
[Portgas D. Rouge]: "Is it? You feel… unfamiliar right now."
[Portgas D. Ace]: "So he's not just a scumbag he's gross, too."
[Gol D. Roger]: "Rouge! Ace! It's the barrage lying—not me!"
[John]: "Come on, we're men. We get it. Drop the act."
[Silver Axe]: "Tell us, Roger what's it like getting punted by Shakky?"
[Gol D. Roger]: "Shut it! I'm not that kind of man!"
[Monkey D. Luffy]: "Sugoi! So the bar lady's super strong! She even beat Roger!"
[Usopp]: "He missed the point."
[Nami]: "With his brain? He always will."
[Tony Tony Chopper]: "I… don't really get it either."
[Nico Robin]: "You don't need to, dear."
Onscreen, the scene resumed.
Roger lay at Shakky's feet, repeating like a broken record:
"Ahhh—Shakky~"
"I like you~
"so much~"
Shakky relit her cigarette, voice airy.
"Ho-ho."
"Me too, Roger."
"I like me very much."
Then her hand flashed pressing him back against a bulkhead. One white finger tipped his chin up. The Pirate King-to-be went slack, all bravado short-circuited.
"But me?" she breathed, smoke curling between words.
"I don't belong to anyone."
She let him go, turned on a red heel, and walked away.
"Bring their treasure," she added, without looking back.
The Kuja cheered; even as the losers, the Roger Pirates couldn't help staring, besotted. Roger stood there, starry-eyed, not moving an inch.
Gloriosa stormed up, fisting his collar.
"Hey! Roger! I said I like you did you hear me?!"
He didn't even turn.
"Move, Gloriosa."
"You're blocking my view of Shakky."
Gloriosa: (｀皿′)!!!
Shakky drifted on then paused beside a blond man with glasses, calm where everyone else was chaos.
Silvers Rayleigh.
She stopped in front of him, head tilted.
"Ray," she said softly. "You're a hard man to rattle."
Rayleigh sighed, the only adult in two crews of lovesick fools.
"Mm."
"A ship full of idiots…"
Shakky's eyes warmed; the faintest smile curved her mouth soft, private, unlike anything she'd shown to the crowd.
Rayleigh, the unflappable, actually blinked and broke into a sweat.
The barrage detonated again, brighter than fireworks.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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Thank you so much for your support and for reading!