Chapter 99: More Than Just a Hug! A Night of Orange Scent!
The Going Merry sailed on the sea, leaving Drum Island behind.
Although it was still cold around them, the atmosphere on the deck was as warm as midsummer.
To celebrate Nami's recovery and the addition of their new companion Chopper, a grand banquet was in full swing.
"Cheers!!!"
"Meat! Meat! Delicious meat!!"
Luffy's hands were full of meat on the bone, and his mouth was stuffed full.
He was engaged in a meaningless "eating contest" with Chopper and Clay, who had also transformed into big eaters.
"Waaa! Delicious! Is this a pirate's banquet!"
Chopper was so moved that his nose was running, and he was munching on a piece of cake larger than his face.
In the corner, Zoro held a huge wine barrel, having long since entered a "man and sword as one" mode of chugging.
In the center of the banquet, Nami, in high spirits, was stepping on a wooden crate and heroically holding up a huge beer mug.
"Come on! Marimo! Big sister is happy today, let's drink until we drop!!"
The joy of surviving a disaster, coupled with the dissipation of the illness that had weighed on her heart, allowed Nami to completely let herself go.
She downed cup after cup, a charming flush appearing on her face.
"Tch, don't get ahead of yourself, Witch." Zoro complained, but still raised his cup to meet hers.
After a few rounds of drinking.
"Hiccup... I... I can still drink..."
The wine glass in Nami's hand wobbled, and finally, unable to handle her liquor, she went limp and fell backward without warning.
"Nami-san!!!"
Sanji, who had been closely watching the goddess's movements from the side, his eyes instantly turned into hearts, let out a shrill cry, and rushed over like a whirlwind:
"Let my warm embrace catch you... Waaa?!"
Bang!
A foot wearing a green boot "accidentally" tripped him.
Sanji was tripped solidly, landing face-first and sliding several meters across the floor.
"You bastard Marimo! Do you want to fight!!" Sanji stood up and roared.
"Sorry, my foot slipped." Zoro calmly took a sip of wine.
In that split second gap.
A pair of strong hands had already firmly caught Nami's slender waist.
Tatsuya caught the drunken Navigator. Looking at the girl in his arms with her flushed face and blurred eyes, he shook his head helplessly.
"Honestly, you just recovered from a serious illness, why drink so much."
Tatsuya picked Nami up in a princess carry and said to the still-arguing Zoro and Sanji:
"Enough, stop fighting. I'm taking this drunkard back to her room to rest."
"Ah! That kind of task should be for a Knight like me..." Sanji was about to protest.
"Alright, alright, Mr. Cook, go grill some meat! Luffy is about to eat the plates too!"
Tatsuya dismissed Sanji with a smile and carried Nami toward the second-floor cabin.
...
Leaving the noisy deck, the cabin hallway seemed exceptionally quiet.
Inside Nami's room.
The orange light was dim and ambiguous, and a faint scent of oranges filled the air—Nami's unique fragrance.
Tatsuya poured a glass of water and placed it on the bedside table. Looking at the girl on the bed with her rosy face, his gaze softened a bit.
"Have a good sleep, Miss Navigator."
Tatsuya spoke softly, then turned to leave.
The moment he turned.
"Don't go..."
A hot little hand suddenly reached out from under the covers and tightly grabbed Tatsuya's wrist.
Tatsuya stopped and looked back.
He saw that Nami had opened her eyes at some point.
Those big eyes, which were usually full of money signs, were now covered with a layer of mist, looking at him moistly.
"Nami?" Tatsuya was stunned for a moment. "Haven't you passed out yet?"
"I don't want you to leave..."
Fueled by the alcohol, Nami's strength was surprisingly great.
She sat up, the blanket slipping down to reveal her shoulders in a thin nightgown.
"Starting from Cocoyasi Village... to Loguetown... then to that snowy mountain..."
Her short orange hair was messy and stuck to her cheeks.
Nami's voice choked up a bit as she looked into Tatsuya's eyes.
"Every time I'm in danger, you're there. Every time I'm in despair, you stand in front of me."
"That snowy mountain... so high... so cold..."
Nami recalled the back as warm as a furnace she felt while unconscious, and tears couldn't help but flow:
"Why are you so good to me?"
"Because you're a comrade," Tatsuya said softly, trying to brush it off with a standard answer.
"Liar."
Nami bit her lip and stared at him intently. The wildness and directness belonging to the Cat Burglar completely erupted under the catalysis of alcohol:
"Just a comrade? Would a comrade look at me the way you do?"
"Tatsuya... look into my eyes and tell me."
Nami sat up straight from the bed and wrapped her arms around Tatsuya's neck. They were inches apart, their breaths intertwining:
"You... like me, don't you?"
"Don't go... stay tonight."
Looking at the girl before him who was so brave it made his heart tremble, the string in Tatsuya's heart named "reason" completely snapped.
The red light in his eyes flashed slightly, and the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
"Heh..."
Tatsuya reached out and gently pinched Nami's chin:
"What a greedy Cat Burglar."
"Since you've already said all this... if I keep playing dumb, I wouldn't be a man."
The moment the words fell.
Tatsuya lowered his head and kissed those two lips that carried a faint scent of wine and the sweetness of oranges.
"Mmm..."
Nami's body trembled violently, then she closed her eyes, responding clumsily yet passionately.
The light and shadows in the room seemed to become hazy.
Tatsuya took the opportunity to press her down onto the soft bed.
"Wait... the lamp..." Nami pointed at the desk lamp in a panic during a gap in her breathing.
Tatsuya didn't speak, just stared at Nami.
The sound of clothes slipping off was exceptionally clear in the silent night.
Nami was trembling slightly; it was nervousness, but also anticipation.
She gripped Tatsuya's shoulders tightly, completely sinking under the gaze of those eyes.
"Tatsuya..."
"I'm here."
The waves gently lapped against the hull, and the Going Merry swayed gently in the waves, as if the sea was singing a lullaby for the two lovers.
That night, the Going Merry's Miss Navigator not only found the medicine to heal her body.
She also found the harbor where she could always rest peacefully in the vast sea.
Amidst the intoxicating scent of oranges, two hearts finally pressed together without reservation.
More than just a hug
...
The next morning.
Bright sunlight spilled into the room through the circular porthole.
Nami's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly woke up. She subconsciously reached out to touch the space beside her.
It was already empty, but the lingering warmth of that person remained on the sheets.
"That bastard..."
The hangover headache had disappeared, replaced by a soreness all over her body as if she were falling apart.
Memories of last night came rushing back like a tide.
An orange ocean, burning breath, and that man's not-so-gentle yet intoxicating...
"Aaaah!!"
Nami suddenly pulled up the blanket to cover her face. Looking at the suggestive marks on her collarbone and arms, she was as flushed with shame and anger as a cooked shrimp.
"What... what is this!! That bastard!!"
Just then.
Click.
The door was pushed open.
Tatsuya walked in carrying a tray with a steaming hot breakfast on it.
At this moment, he looked refreshed, his face still wearing that smiling, punchable expression, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
"Good morning, Nami."
Tatsuya placed the breakfast on the nightstand. Looking at Nami, who was huddled under the covers with only her eyes showing, he smirked:
"What? Still reminiscing?"
"Reminiscing my foot!!"
A pillow flew over with precision.
Tatsuya easily caught the pillow, walked to the bedside and sat down. Seeing Nami's unnatural movements, he seriously raised his hand, a green Chakra light glowing in his palm:
"You look like you're in pain? Want me to help?"
"This is my unique technique, the [Mystical Palm Technique]. It specializes in treating bruises, sprains, and backaches. The results are instantaneous."
"Who wants your treatment!!"
Nami was dying of shame, her face so red it looked like it could bleed. "It's all your fault! Pervert! Lecher! Get out!!"
Although she was cursing, when Tatsuya leaned in and gently placed a morning kiss on her forehead.
Nami's cursing stopped.
Nami blushed and turned her head away, but she didn't dodge. She just muttered softly:
"...The porridge is going to get cold."
At this moment.
After the paper-thin barrier called "Vice Captain and Navigator" was finally punctured, the relationship between the two established a more intimate bond.
However.
This warm and charming world of two didn't last long.
"Aaaah!!!!! What a huge fish!!!!!"
A vibrant roar instantly shattered the morning silence.
Following that was Luffy's excited loud voice, penetrating the door:
"Hey!!! Everyone come out and look!! A super huge fish!!"
"Meat! It's all meat!!"
"Hey! Zoro! Go down and catch it for me!! We want to eat grilled fish!!"
From the deck came Zoro's annoyed voice, filled with morning grumpiness:
"Huh?! Why me?! Can't you catch it yourself!!"
"I want to eat it! Hurry, hurry!!"
Inside the room.
Tatsuya and Nami looked at each other and laughed helplessly.
"Honestly... these guys."
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