How many doujins a Diary Copy holder has under their catalog basically tells you how much weight they carry in Arton's heart.
At the very least, the number of doujins reflects how important that person was to Arton before he ever came to this world—something the Fireblade Pirates have basically accepted as common sense by now.
And of course, everyone was curious what, exactly, was inside Raki's folder.
With Raki's small pair of wings—those little things of hers—people couldn't help imagining what kind of positions Arton would use to handle her.
The thought had everyone itching.
"Uh… d-do you really have to see it?" Raki scratched her cheek, breaking into a nervous sweat.
"If you're not comfortable, I can show you mine instead." Nami leaned in, cheeks flushed.
Raki's lips twitched. Staring at Nami's shamelessly eager expression, she had about ten different things she wanted to say… and couldn't get a single one out.
She'd imagined plenty of scenarios after stepping onto the Fireblade Pirates' ship.
She just… hadn't imagined this—Nami and the others looking like they were about to tear into forbidden books with sparkling eyes.
…Still. If I get to see everyone else's, that actually sounds kind of exciting. Conis never shares this stuff with me…
Raki's gaze hardened, resolve setting in.
"Fine. I'll show you my doujins," she said. "But if I do, I want you all to show me yours too."
Now that she'd made up her mind, she wanted to learn a few new tricks from everyone else's Diary Copies.
Because who knew—maybe someday she'd actually need them when it was her turn with Arton.
…
Elsewhere, in the space where Arton and Kaya were resting—
"Captain… you said you were going to calm down," Kaya murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.
She was sitting on his lap in the bath, her soft weight pressed against his chest—enough to make her tone sound faintly resentful.
Arton sighed. "Sorry. That was pure instinct. I mean—look at you. How am I supposed to stay calm when you're this cute?"
He leaned closer, voice dropping. "Help me out again… yeah?"
Then he blew a warm breath against her ear.
Kaya's body tensed.
"Seriously… you literally just said—" she started, trying to refuse for his sake.
But that one breath at her ear shattered her will. Gentle as she was, she could never stay hard-hearted with him.
She wet her lips—remembering the taste from earlier—and realized, to her own shock, that she wanted it again.
Kaya nodded firmly, then dipped her head beneath the surface.
The medicinal bathwater wasn't murky like real bathwater, but it was cloudy enough to see what she was doing.
It didn't take long for her to find her target.
Arton sucked in a breath.
Damn. She's good.
The moment he felt Kaya's attack, he knew she wasn't a beginner.
He was just about to really match her pace when a voice came from outside.
"Captain, you in there? I'm coming in, okay?"
The door opened.
Kaya clearly heard Uta too and tried to spring back up—
"It's fine," Arton murmured quickly. "Just stay hidden."
He pressed Kaya back under.
With Kaya's ridiculous level of strength by now, she'd long since learned how to stay underwater for extended stretches without any danger.
So Arton didn't worry about her needing air.
Chapter 522: Uta Goes Into Overdrive
Captain, honestly… Kaya grumbled silently.
She was a little annoyed, sure—but she still listened to her heart, lowered her head deeper, and prayed Uta wouldn't notice she was there.
Maybe it was nerves. Maybe she just wanted to hurry up and went faster.
Either way, Uta's movements were starting to feel intense.
Arton definitely noticed.
"Ah—so you're in here, Captain." Uta peered in at the tub, curious. "Where's Kaya? She's not with you?"
"Kaya's…" Arton cleared his throat. "Busy right now."
He changed the subject fast. "What about you? Why aren't you out playing on the Sea Clouds? What'd you come here for?"
"Oh—right, I almost forgot!" Uta smacked her forehead. "Captain, earlier a bunch of dark-skinned Sky Islanders came over and tried to start trouble."
"Ain handled it—used her Devil Fruit to drive them off." Uta continued. "But she did bring one woman back. Her name's Raki."
Uta grinned. "So… you wanna go see her?"
"Raki—!" The moment Arton heard the name, his body reacted on instinct—thrusting upward before he could stop it.
Uta blinked. "You… know her?"
Arton coughed twice. "Ahem. Sort of."
How could I not? She was one of the only two Sky Island women he'd ever done fan doujins of.
Sure, he hadn't made as much content with Raki and Conis as he had with women like Nami and Robin…
But there was no way he'd forget Raki.
If anything, every single woman he'd ever reimagined from this world had left a vivid imprint in his memory.
And that made Arton feel oddly bittersweet.
Because, realistically, the female Marines he'd made those doujins about… he probably wasn't ever going to do those things to them in real life.
Unless they left the Navy like Tashigi and Ain did.
But as things stood, the path Tashigi and Ain took wasn't something Gion or Kujaku could just copy-paste.
Unless Arton forced it.
And if he did that… it wouldn't feel the same at all.
You couldn't compare forcing someone to someone coming to you willingly.
Not even close.
"Arton? Captain?" Uta frowned. "You spacing out?"
Under the water, Kaya heard that—and lightly bit him.
Arton jolted, then snapped his focus back to Uta.
"Sorry. I was thinking about something." He tried to play it off. "What were you saying again?"
"I asked if you want to go see Raki now," Uta repeated with a smile, "or later?"
"I'm definitely seeing her," Arton said. Then he frowned. "But I don't get one thing—why'd Ain bring her onto the ship?"
Uta crossed her arms like it was obvious. "Seriously? Everyone knows you like pretty women, Captain. That's why Ain brought her back."
"So I should thank you guys, then?" Arton chuckled.
How could he not smile? His crew was basically delivering beautiful guests to him at this point.
That was absolutely something to be happy about.
"You can praise me louder," Uta said proudly. "I can take it."
Then she tilted her head. "So? Now… or later?"
Arton glanced down at the water's surface and—after a painful second—shook his head.
"Later," he said. "Let me rest for a bit first, Uta."
He really wanted to meet the real-life Raki and see how she compared to the version in his head.
But unfortunately, he wasn't going anywhere.
Because Kaya had him completely pinned in place with her wrap-around technique—locking him down like a pro.