For nearly a full day now, the crew had been sailing through the Grand Line's deceptive calm.
The sea was gentle, almost polite, as if pretending it wasn't the most dangerous ocean in the world. The problem wasn't storms or monsters—it was the wind. Or rather, the lack of it.
Again and again, the breeze would simply die, leaving the sails to droop uselessly and the Going Merry drifting like a lazy thought.
Luffy sat on his cloud-forged throne, legs relaxed, a glass of whiskey resting loosely in his hand. His eyes wandered across the deck, taking in the quiet rhythm of his crew.
Sanji, Usopp, and Yosaku leaned over the side of the ship, lines cast into the water, arguing about which fish would taste best and which one was "definitely a legendary sea beast." Zoro slept beside them, arms crossed, unbothered by the sun, the sea, or the fact that a fish nearly slapped him in the face.
On the upper deck, Nami and Vivi stood together near the rail, watching the fishing with mixed expressions—Nami calculating angles and currents out of habit, Vivi visibly worrying about time slipping through her fingers.
Johnny stood high in the watchtower, squinting at the horizon like sheer determination alone might conjure an island.
Behind Luffy, rhythmic whips of air cut through the space.
Nojiko moved with focused intensity, her three-section staff snapping, rotating, and shifting between rigid control and fluid motion. Sweat ran down her temples. Her breathing was sharp, measured. Each movement carried purpose, not play.
To Luffy's right, Karoo stood proudly at attention, chest puffed out, eyes fixed on the endless ocean.
Luffy took another sip of whiskey.
Yeah… the duck's alright, he admitted silently.
Then the sails slackened.
The ship slowed.
Stopped.
Luffy exhaled slowly through his nose.
"When we get to Water 7," he muttered, "I'm building a ship with oars, propellers, gears, engines—something. This is insulting."
Footsteps approached.
"Luffy," Nami said, clearly stating the obvious. "The wind stopped again."
Luffy gave her a sideways look. "You don't say."
"There's nothing I can do about the wind," he added calmly, lifting his glass.
"But at this pace…" Vivi said quietly. "If we reach Alabasta too late—"
Luffy stood.
He placed a hand gently on Vivi's shoulder.
"You worry too much," he said, smiling—not cocky, not teasing, but steady. "Everything will be fine."
Then he turned to Nami.
"Why don't you distract her," he said casually, "and teach her a bit of Haki?"
Vivi blinked. "Haki?"
She turned toward Nami—and immediately regretted it.
Nami's smile was sharp. Dangerous.
Before Vivi could protest, she was dragged away toward the women's quarters.
Luffy watched them disappear, then leaned back into his throne.
Good luck, he thought.
With a mental nudge, the throne rotated.
Now he faced Nojiko.
She was still moving—faster now—her staff a blur of silver arcs. She struck at empty space as if an enemy stood there, invisible but real.
Luffy observed quietly for several seconds.
"Training hard," he finally said.
Nojiko stopped instantly.
She bent forward slightly, hands on her knees, catching her breath before straightening.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
Luffy poured a second glass of whiskey and handed it to her.
"Why now?" he asked. "Why this hard?"
She hesitated… then downed the drink in one go.
"I've always trained," she said.
Luffy refilled the glass and gave it back.
"No," he said calmly. "You haven't."
He stood and turned toward the sea.
"Ever since we left Whiskey Peak," he continued, "you haven't stopped. Not once."
Silence stretched.
Nojiko's grip tightened on her staff.
"…Because I was weak," she said.
Luffy didn't interrupt.
"I could've died there," she went on. "If it wasn't for you… Nami… Zoro… Johnny… Yosaku…"
Her voice wavered.
"And those people were nothing. Petty enemies. If I froze there, what happens later?"
She clenched her jaw. "I let my guard down. And my little sister had to protect me. Again."
Luffy turned and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're not alone," he said.
She looked up, eyes wet.
"You weren't the only one who messed up," he continued. "And Nami didn't fight anyone. She was busy stealing."
Nojiko blinked.
"That's… not comforting."
"It's reality," Luffy said. "This is a new life for you. I've been a pirate forever. Nami's been stealing forever. Zoro and those idiots hunted people for a living."
Johnny sneezed loudly in the distance.
"We built skills over time," Luffy said. "You will too."
Nojiko wiped her eyes and smiled.
"…Thanks, Luffy."
He smiled back.
"Good," he said, shrugging off his coat and tossing it onto the throne. "Now show me."
She stared. "Show you… what?"
He stepped back, adopting a relaxed stance.
"You don't want to die. You don't want your sister protecting you."
His eyes sharpened.
"You want to protect her."
Nojiko swallowed.
"Show me your resolve."
"N–No way I can beat you!"
"I didn't ask you to."
She steadied herself, then lunged.
Her staff snapped toward his head—fast.
Luffy caught it easily.
"Tsk," he said. "Nami's still saving you."
Nojiko growled and pulled free, attacking again.
Blocked.
"Dead."
She screamed in frustration and swung wildly.
Dodged.
"Do you want to die?" Luffy asked.
"No!"
"I can't hear you."
"NO!"
Her attacks sharpened—faster, heavier.
"Then attack me!"
She roared and poured everything into one final strike.
Luffy raised his arm—
—and felt resistance.
He froze.
Black faded from the staff's surface.
Luffy smiled.
"Congratulations."
"…What?"
"You awakened Armament Haki."
Nojiko stared.
"…What?"
"That last strike," Luffy said, settling back onto his throne. "You coated your staff with will."
She sat down hard.
"…It was just my will?"
"Yeah," Luffy replied. "Turns out, will is terrifying."
She laughed weakly.
"…What now?"
"Learn to use it," he said. "Make it instinct."
He tossed her a blindfold.
"Train with your eyes closed."
"…Why?"
"Because enemies love taking your senses," he said. "And because it looks cool."
She tied it on.
Her first spin—
THUD.
Luffy laughed as Nojiko smacked herself.
And somewhere ahead, the Grand Line waited.