Chapter 65: Hawkeye is On His Way

Chapter 65: Hawkeye is On His Way

"Just leave it to me, I have experience."

Zoro skillfully dodged Kuina's claws, wiped his nose with a flourish, and strode confidently into the kitchen.

A moment later, he returned, proudly holding a cup of hot water, and handed it to Nami. "Here, take this. Drink it and you'll feel better right away."

Nami looked up at the moss-headed idiot, stunned.

"...Thanks," Nami said quietly, "but I don't think a cup of hot water is going to do much..."

"Ohhh!!!"

Zoro slapped his forehead in a moment of enlightenment. He clattered back into the kitchen and returned, this time carrying six cups of hot water.

"My mistake, I wasn't thinking. You're Shane's sister, so your constitution isn't like a normal person's. You'll need at least this much for it to work."

BONK!

Nami, having reached her limit, slammed a fist down on his head. "It's not a question of quantity! Are you an idiot? You must be an idiot!!!"

"Pfft-hahahaha!!!"

Sanji burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "I can't believe there are morons who actually think hot water works! You'd be better off learning to cook from me and making a bowl of cream of mushroom soup. Of course, the most effective thing is just to take a painkiller!"

"What are you laughing at?!" Nami punched him on the head too. "And what were you doing, suddenly kneeling in front of me? Fawning over me like some kind of pervert is just creepy, you know!!"

"W-we're sorry…"

The two boys, now sporting bruises, huddled together in a corner, trembling too much to speak.

"Anyway," Nami said, turning back to Shane, her expression instantly shifting back to a pitiful, delicate look. "You see, Big Bro~! I started getting it two years ago. I'm really not a kid anymore. I'm a completely mature woman now, so please take me with you~!"

BONK!

Shane's fist was her answer. Three lumps instantly swelled on Nami's head, steam rising from them.

"You're getting more and more mischievous. Spare the rod, spoil the child."

Shane dusted off his hands with a deadpan expression. "I told you to go upstairs and comfort Belle-mère, but you ran down here instead. Did you want her to cry all alone until nightfall?"

"I'm not crying!" a flustered voice yelled from the top of the stairs. "I told you all to hurry up and get out! Why are you still dawdling around the house?"

"Then you should close your door and stop eavesdropping!" Shane yelled back.

Silence from upstairs.

After dinner, everything had been fine, until Belle-mère suddenly lost her temper with him. She had ranted about how it was their last meal at home, how there was a mountain of dishes from so many people, and how he, the good-for-nothing, wasn't even helping.

Then she had stormed upstairs, telling him to get the hell out after he finished the dishes and that she didn't want to see her unfilial son's face by the time she came back down.

Is she afraid she won't be able to stop crying? Or is she afraid that if her son sees her crying, he won't have the heart to leave?

What terrible acting.

Shane shook his head and picked up the pack beside the sofa. It was stuffed with his winter clothes, hand-knitted socks, scarves, and wool hats… along with all sorts of snacks he and Nojiko loved.

It was so heavy it would probably sink straight to the bottom of the sea if he threw it in. Sheesh, it's just like Belle-mère's love, he thought. Can't stand to see a single tear.

"We're really leaving now!"

Shane shouted with all his might, making the roof tiles rattle, afraid that the prideful woman who had surely closed her door wouldn't be able to hear him.

"When you're spying on us from the window later, make sure to hide properly! Don't let Nojiko see you crying when she turns around, because I'm definitely not looking back!"

Hey, why am I the shield again?

Nojiko pinched his side in annoyance. She wasn't sure if his muscles were too hard to get a good grip, but her fingers ended up getting hurt instead. She turned her head away, her eyes turning red against her will.

The others grabbed their already-packed bags, and they finally stepped out the door.

As it opened, Nami sneakily stuffed something into Shane's pack, then hid to the side, sticking her tongue out and making a face at his departing back.

She looked back toward the stairs, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a box of tissues from the coffee table and went up.

Koshiro, Zoro, and Sanji, who had come to see them off, stood silently by the door, watching the figures grow smaller in the distance.

"YOU OLD GEEZER!!!"

Sanji suddenly took a step forward, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled, "You'd better find the All Blue! I hate trouble, so I'm counting on it being there waiting for me when I set sail as an adult!!"

The old man in the distance didn't break his stride. He simply raised his right hand high and gave him the middle finger.

"YOU TOO, KUINA!!!"

Zoro, who had been holding it in, could no longer contain himself. He took several steps forward, blocking Sanji, and roared in an even louder voice:

"HURRY UP AND BECOME THE WORLD'S GREATEST SWORDSMAN!! THAT WAY, WHEN I SET SAIL, I'LL ONLY HAVE TO BEAT YOU! I HATE TROUBLE TOO, SO I DON'T WANT TO GO AROUND CHALLENGING A BUNCH OF OTHER SWORDSMEN!!!"

Kuina also didn't look back. She raised her right hand, seemingly about to flip him off too, but for some reason, it ended up in an "OK" sign.

Do I have to start everything? Sanji thought, angrily stomping on Zoro's foot. Zoro, not to be outdone, stomped right back.

Koshiro leaned quietly against the doorframe.

He didn't say a word, still wearing his gentle smile, but his gaze never left Kuina's back, not until her figure became a blurry speck…

Blurry?

But I held back my tears, didn't I?

Koshiro subconsciously pushed at the bridge of his nose, only then realizing something was wrong. Huh, where are my glasses?

...

On the shaded path lined with coconut trees, the group of four, carrying their packs, headed towards the newly built pier on the northwest side of the island.

The pier had been constructed to accommodate large cargo ships.

The quality of Cocoyasi Village's tangerines was truly exceptional. The processing workshop's business had boomed over the years, attracting a constant stream of merchant ships and making the entire village much more prosperous.

As they walked, the well-paved roads and the many new, spacious houses they passed were clear proof of this.

But one thing was strange.

The streets were completely empty. There was hardly a soul in sight.

"Manba and the villagers are all waiting at the old pier to see us off. They think we're leaving on my family's little boat," Kuina said with a smile. "They didn't expect that the large cargo ship that docked at the new pier this afternoon is the one we're actually taking."

"It's Old Gat's new ship."

Shane grinned. "He's saved up a lot of money over the years, and his old ship had some lingering issues after that run-in with the Sea King, so he decided to upgrade. When he heard I was setting sail, he offered to come and see me off."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Years ago at the Isshin Dojo, Kuina had pestered Shane into telling her all about his first impromptu sea adventure. She still remembered the name "Old Gat" and nodded in understanding.

A short while later, they arrived at the new pier.

Just as expected, their diversion tactic had worked. The place was deserted, save for Old Gat and a few of his sailors, waiting on the pier with pipes in their mouths and smiles on their faces.

"Long time no see, Lord Shane!"

Behind him, a behemoth of a ship was docked. It was over a hundred meters long, significantly larger than the Krieg Pirates' flagship that Nojiko had seen at the old pier.

Did he get a phobia of insufficient firepower after almost being smashed to bits by the Lord of the Coast all those years ago?

Shane laughed and walked over to greet him. Kuina, standing beside him, hadn't expected the merchant ship to be so massive up close. She spread her arms wide and exclaimed in awe:

"Wow, it's so big..."

...

"Wow, it's so small..."

On an island somewhere in the Grand Line, a shopkeeper grunted as he carried food and fresh water to the shore. He saw the coffin-like boat and his eyes widened. "Sir, are you really planning to take this boat to the East Blue? Aren't you afraid it'll capsize?"

"Don't ask unnecessary questions. Just help me put my things on board."

The man with the massive black sword on his back glanced at him, his tone icy.

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