Chapter 7
Sol turned around—and realized Nami, who'd been standing right behind him, had vanished. The corner of his mouth twitched. "That woman... she'd dominate the assassin industry if she switched careers."
Hiss—
Zoro suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, clutching his waist wound and dropping to one knee. Blood seeped between his fingers, pooling dark red on the sandy ground.
First that sneaky shot from Buggy... He gritted his teeth, peeling back the blood-soaked cloth. Then that circus swordsman's cheap kick to the same spot... Veins bulged on Zoro's forehead. These guys don't fight fair—one dirtier than the next!
Sol placed a hand over the wound. A soft blue glow radiated from his palm. Under the gentle light, the gash closed at visible speed, not even leaving a scar.
Zoro touched the once-mangled skin in surprise. "Thanks, Sol. Didn't know you could do that too." He grinned. "Looks like you've got the ship doctor and chef jobs locked down."
"Hey, don't push it." Sol withdrew the magic—just as Luffy tugged his sleeve.
Luffy held up his damaged straw hat with sparkling eyes. "Sol! Can you fix this too?"
A loving iron fist crashed onto the rubber skull.
"Idiot!" Sol's forehead vein throbbed. "That's physical damage, not a wound! You think I'm a tailor?!"
Luffy crouched, head smoking. "But you healed Zoro's..."
Sol sighed and turned to Zoro. "For the record—my healing magic only works on others. It doesn't affect me." He pointed at himself. "So if I ever go down hard, keep me alive. We're gonna need a real ship doctor someday."
"Ta-da! I'm back!"
Nami bounced in, a bulging sack slung over her back—clinking loudly with fresh loot.
Before anyone could react, she snatched Luffy's hat and pulled out needle and thread like a magician. "I'm in a good mood. This hat means a lot to you, right? I'll fix it—no charge this time. Hehe."
Luffy's eyes went round. "Whoa! Nami, you can sew?!"
"Duh. Anyone surviving at sea has to know the basics." Her needle danced along the brim; the tear vanished under neat, tight stitches.
She twirled the thread proudly. "How's that? Pretty good, huh?" Then plopped the restored hat back on Luffy's head.
Just then, the mayor and a crowd of villagers armed with pitchforks and hoes stormed the square—only to find the Buggy Pirates groaning on the ground. The mayor's cane clattered to the pavement. "These vicious pirates... actually..."
"Run! Now!" Nami hissed, orange hair whipping in the wind. "Once those villagers start crying and thanking us, I might end up giving the treasure away—no way!"
Zoro muttered while sprinting, "Your obsession with money is terrifying..."
The four reached the dock panting. Nami stared at the gently rocking sailboat. "Wait... this is your pirate ship?" She gestured dramatically. "It's tiny!"
Sol leaped aboard and patted the weathered mast. "It's temporary~" He counted on his fingers. "We've got four official crew members now."
"Four?" Nami narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Luffy slung an arm around her neck. "You too, Nami! Once we find a musician, that's five!"
"I'm not joining this broke-ass pirate crew!" Nami exploded, jumping away—only to notice the boat drifting from the pier with the tide. "Wait—!"
"Sky Dragon's—Roaaaaar!!!"
Sol inhaled deeply, chest swelling, then unleashed a ferocious vortex of wind from his mouth. The boat lurched forward as if kicked by a giant, bow rising to 45 degrees. Nami's hair streamed straight back.
"Eeeeeek!!!" She clung to the mast for dear life. "We're gonna fall apart! And we're going the wrong way, idiots!!!"
Luffy hung off the figurehead, laughing wildly. "Wahaha! Faster, faster!"
Zoro leaned against the rail, hair whipping in the sea breeze. He'd somehow found a bottle of rum in the hold and took a long swig. "Hah... now this is sailing."
Nami scrambled to the helm, spinning the wheel frantically. She caught a favorable current; the ship shuddered, then glided smoothly into the flow, riding it effortlessly.
Sol stopped his roar and joined Zoro for drinks. Luffy spotted them and ran over. Soon it turned into an open-deck party.
Nami watched the three goofing off—Luffy stretching his arm to steal Zoro's bottle, Sol mischievously holding it high, Zoro facepalming—and felt a storm of emotions rise.
(Maybe... they could take on Arlong?)
The thought flashed and vanished, crushed ruthlessly. Her nails dug into her palms. (But pirates are pirates... how could I ever...)
"Hey, you three—"
Nami shouted suddenly, a smile blooming across her face before she even realized it. "Save some booze for me! I lugged all that treasure—my throat's on fire!"
She dashed over, snatched Sol's bottle, and chugged a big gulp. The burn slid down with an unexpected sweetness.
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Nami's joining the party? Awesome!"
Zoro raised a brow. "Don't overdo it if you can't hold your liquor."
Sol gave her a knowing look, lips curving. "Navigator lady, deducting the booze from your treasure share?"
"Fat chance!" Nami hugged her sack tighter—but burst out laughing amid their hearty guffaws.
The four drank through the night. By morning, they were sprawled across the deck asleep. Sol woke with a gasp—Nami's head was on his chest, her leg casually draped over Luffy's stomach. Zoro lay starfished beside the helm, three swords stuck in a barrel like a clothesline.
Sol tried to free his arm, but Nami hugged tighter in her sleep, mumbling "beri..." with drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.
Gulls overhead woke Zoro. He staggered up—and stumbled.
Crash!
The barrel toppled, startling birds into flight. Luffy shot upright: "Meat!!" Nami instinctively grabbed her staff: "Enemy attack?!"
The four stared at each other.
Only then did they notice the bow pointed at an unfamiliar small island—they'd drifted who-knows-where overnight.
Nami rubbed her forehead. "So... who was on watch last night?"
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