Reiju and Yamato

Jacob cut through the air like a blue comet, the sonic boom of his flight rippling across the sea.

The Calm Belt stretched before him—a vast, silent abyss where even the waves seemed afraid to move. It was a realm of sea kings.

His Observation Haki tingled.

Something—no, someone—was out there.

He slowed, eyes narrowing as he spotted a jagged coral formation in the water. The remains of a shattered ship lay strewn across it.

And at the center, two figures.

Two women, barely standing.

Their clothes were torn, their armor damaged, and their faces bruised and dirtied. Even above, he could see their malnourished state—fifty days on this rock had drained them.

Yet their eyes burned with defiance.

One was Reiju Vinsmoke, the poisonous princess of Germa 66. Her pink hair clung to her sweat-slick face, and her battle suit was partially torn, revealing cuts and bruises.

The other—Yamato. The daughter of Kaido. Chains dangled from her wrists, half-broken. She still clutched her kanabo, even as her body swayed from exhaustion.

Jacob exhaled.

"What the hell happened here?"

He descended. The instant his boots touched the coral—

BOOM!

Yamato lunged, kanabo swinging like a falling meteor.

Jacob barely dodged. The wind pressure cracked the coral beneath him.

"Tch!" Reiju wiped blood from her lips. "You stubborn beast, just wait a second—"

But Yamato was already rushing Jacob again.

No words. No hesitation.

Only battle.

Jacob grinned.

Perfect.

If he wanted to awaken Armament Haki—he needed to fight for his life.

Before Yamato's kanabo could crash down on Jacob—her legs buckled.

Her body gave in before her will.

She collapsed, breathing ragged, her arms trembling from starvation.

Reiju tried to step toward Jacob, but her knees failed her. She barely managed to sit, clutching her side where bruises and cuts layered over each other.

Jacob exhaled, shaking his head.

"Fifty days of fighting over scraps... It's a miracle they're even alive. Damn... these two are monsters."

His original plan was to search for Rusukaina, where he could challenge himself against the island's beasts to awaken Armament Haki.

But now—

He had two warriors, each with potential as great as, or even greater than, Kuina.

His plans could wait.

He crouched down, carefully lifting Yamato over his shoulder while cradling Reiju. Despite their weakened state, he could feel the raw power in their bodies.

With a powerful burst of blue fire, he soared into the sky—racing back to Syrup Village.

***

Kaya's hands glowed green as she focused on her Revitalize Fruit.

The wilted flowers by her feet slowly regained their vibrant colors and stood tall again.

"My control is getting better."

Then—

BOOM!

A sonic boom shook the air, and Kaya instinctively turned toward the sky.

A streak of blue fire descended.

Jacob landed in the courtyard, his coat billowing behind him.

But he wasn't alone.

In his arms, he carried two unconscious women.

One was tall and muscular, with white hair and curved horns—her body covered in bruises and dirt. The other was shorter, with pink hair, her suit torn, and her ordinarily smooth skin marred by cuts.

Kaya's eye twitched.

"Another two?!"

Nami, Nojiko, Kuina, and Carina rushed outside and stared at the new arrivals.

Jacob casually looked at Kaya and said—

"Heal them."

Kaya's grip tightened.

"Oh, so now I'm a doctor?"

She sighed through her nose, forcing a smile. "Of course, Jacob. I'll treat your new women."

Jacob blinked. "Wait, no, that's not—"

But Kaya had already snatched Reiju from his arms with surprising strength.

"Let's get them inside," Nojiko said, sensing Kaya's growing irritation.

As they moved toward the house, Carina smirked at Jacob. "You sure are efficient, huh?"

Jacob groaned.

Kuina chuckled. "You better explain yourself before Kaya poisons your food."

***

Reiju's eyes fluttered open.

Her body—previously aching and weak—now felt refreshed.

She instinctively touched her arms, feeling smooth, healed skin.

"Where…?"

The scent of warm food drifted through the air.

She turned and saw the tomboyish woman beside her—eating furiously.

The woman's horns twitched as she stuffed her mouth, tearing through grilled meat like a starved beast.

Reiju blinked. "...A glutton?"

Then, a new presence approached.

A blue-haired woman with tanned skin is strong yet carrying a gentle aura.

She placed a plate of steaming food in front of Reiju.

"Eat up," Nojiko said, smiling. "You need to recover."

Reiju hesitated for a moment but picked up a spoon.

She took a bite—

Warm. Savory. Refreshing.

It was nothing like the sterile, nutrient-packed meals she was used to in Germa.

As she continued eating, a tingling sensation made her pause.

The one woman was staring at her.

Not openly—no, she was pretending to eat.

But Reiju could feel it—

That intense gaze.

Like an animal sizing up another predator.

Reiju calmly took another bite.

At lunch outside, Reiju calmly placed her spoon down, dabbing her lips with a napkin before focusing on the one woman beside her.

"Do you want a rematch?" she asked, her voice smooth but challenging.

The tall horned woman—Yamato—paused mid-bite. A glint of excitement flickered in her sharp red eyes as she swallowed her food.

"Heh…" Yamato smirked, cracking her knuckles. "You're feeling bold for someone who just woke up."

Reiju tilted her head. "I recover fast."

Yamato grinned. "So do I."

The air between them crackled with tension.

Nojiko sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "Can't you two take a break before trying to kill each other?"

Reiju kept her eyes locked on Yamato. "It's not about killing. It's about settling something unfinished."

Yamato nodded. "Exactly."

Before the atmosphere could escalate further—

A sonic boom echoed from above.

Everyone turned their heads toward the sky—

A streak of blue fire blazed toward them.

Jacob.

He landed effortlessly a few meters away, dust swirling around his feet. His sharp eyes scanned the two former rivals, now sitting together.

"You're awake," he said, looking at Reiju.

She gave him a neutral glance. "I owe you for saving us."

Jacob waved a hand. "You don't owe me anything—"

"You're wrong," she interrupted. "I hate being in someone's debt. I'll pay you back."

Yamato stretched her arms. "Yeah, same here! Thanks for the save, Long Nose." She grinned. "But don't think I'm just gonna follow you around."

Jacob smirked. "I wouldn't expect anything less from Kaido's daughter."

Yamato immediately bristled. "I AM NOT KAIDO'S DAUGHTER! I AM HIS SON!"

Jacob chuckled while Nojiko rolled her eyes. "Great. More chaos."

Reiju stared at Jacob, then at Yamato, then at Nojiko.

This group…

They're insane.

***

Days passed, and Yamato settled into Syrup Village—though not without chaos.

"I am Kozuki Oden!" she declared for the hundredth time, slamming a fist against her palm. "And Oden never backs down from a challenge!"

Jacob smirked. "Then fight me."

Yamato's grin stretched wide, her sharp canines gleaming. "Heh… don't regret it!"

A sonic boom echoed as Jacob, wearing sea stone bracelets, clashed against Yamato's fist.

Their duels became a daily spectacle, drawing the attention of Kuina, who couldn't resist joining the challenge.

Kuina wiped the sweat from her brow. "You're reckless, but I like your spirit."

Yamato laughed. "Same to you! You fight like a demon!"

Meanwhile, Reiju remained distant, preferring solitude over their chaotic battles.

Instead of training, she immersed herself in studying plants and genetics, often seen gathering herbs around the village.

Jacob once found her reading old medical texts, eyes focused, her demeanor unreadable.

"You're really into this kind of stuff, huh?" he mused.

Reiju barely glanced at him. "Understanding life is the key to controlling it."

Jacob frowned. "Sounds ominous."

Reiju finally met his gaze, a smirk playing on her lips. "Does it?"

Something about her felt unreadable, like a puzzle he couldn't solve.

And the biggest mystery?

How did Yamato and Reiju end up stranded in the middle of the Calm Belt for 50 days?

When he asked, Yamato just shrugged. "Storm. Bad luck."

Reiju, however, gave a small, mysterious smile.