"It hurts!!"
Luffy was struck again, stabbed by the sharpened projectiles Usopp fired at him.
But Usopp refused to give him any breathing room.
"Triple Gunpowder Star!!"
Explosions erupted across Coco Village as Luffy dodged left and right—the ground erupting wherever Usopp's projectiles landed.
"Gum-Gum… Pistol!!"
Luffy leaped sideways and launched a long-range punch. His rubber arm stretched across the field, slamming straight into Usopp and sending him flying.
"Gum-Gum…"
Luffy began sprinting, stretching both arms back and preparing to launch a Rocket Launcher.
But Usopp suddenly stood up.
He raised the Impact Dial from Skypiea and absorbed Luffy's charging strike.
"Your impact… I've taken it."
Then he slammed the Dial forward.
"Impact!!"
BOOM!
Luffy was blasted backward—and Usopp was also launched by the recoil. His left arm trembled violently from the shock.
"Ahh!! H-How about that, you bastard!!" Usopp yelled, panting.
Hitting Luffy wasn't easy for him—physically or emotionally.
But… would this attack really matter?
Sandy had said it before:
Luffy's bones, organs, everything inside him was rubber. Unless you cut off his head, internal-impact attacks meant almost nothing.
Sure enough, Luffy stood back up.
He stretched his arm.
"Gum-Gum… Bullet!!"
The punch smashed straight into Usopp.
Usopp flew backward, landing face-down, butt sticking up in the air.
The outcome was decided.
A whole combo chain fierce like a tiger… only for the result to look stupid.
Usopp had used everything he had, while Luffy survived it all.
Usopp, meanwhile, couldn't take even one serious hit.
On the Going Merry, Sandy knew it was time for him to step in—now that everyone had calmed down.
As soon as Sandy approached, Luffy looked up.
"What's wrong?"
Sandy spoke seriously.
"You're going to become the Pirate King."
Then he squatted beside Usopp.
"It hurts a lot, right?"
Luffy sat down as well. Silence fell.
After a moment, Sandy spoke softly.
"Usopp… Merry is crying. Did you know?"
Everyone turned sharply toward the ship.
Below the wooden sheep's head of the Going Merry—
tears were streaming down.
Everyone froze.
Usopp, struggling to sit up, stared at the figurehead in shock—mouth hanging open.
Sandy continued gently, "Back then, the Going Merry was just an ordinary ship. It's exhausted from carrying us this far. Do you understand, Usopp?"
Usopp trembled.
"Y-Yes! Just as I thought—Merry has a life of its own, right? Luffy! Merry… she's not just an object. She's our nakama, just like us!"
"Oooh!!" Luffy cried. "Merry is our nakama…!"
Sandy placed his hands on both their shoulders, pulling their foreheads together.
"Don't you understand yet? Merry's keel is severely damaged. She's holding on only because we're clinging to her… she's carrying us painfully, just barely staying alive."
Usopp felt numb—like electricity ran through him.
"But… Sandy, Luffy, I…" Usopp stammered.
Sandy cut him off, "Do you think your repairs fixed her? Merry fixed herself. If she's our nakama, how can we let her suffer like this?"
Everyone turned back to the figurehead—and tears flowed.
Sandy looked at Usopp.
"When it's time to let go… you have to let go. If you cling too tightly… do you really have the heart to keep hurting her? You bastard… sob sob…"
"Ooooh…"
"Waaahh… Merry…"
They all cried together for a long time.
And as the tears dried, Usopp finally realized…
He had trampled on the Captain's dignity.
Luffy remained silent, staring at the ground.
Sandy placed a hand on Usopp's shoulder.
"Usopp… are you clear-headed now? If you want to become a brave warrior of the sea, you must face your own heart. Admitting mistakes takes courage.
Just like a certain swordsman who learned a little technique and thought he was invincible—how could that work?"
Zoro's face darkened.
"Hey… hey…"
Usopp suddenly looked up, tears pouring down.
"Luffy! I was wrong… I was too stubborn. W-Will you… still want me?"
Usopp had strong pride and strong insecurity—admitting fault was painfully rare.
Luffy understood that.
"Ooooooh!!" Luffy burst into tears.
"Of course I want you back, you idiot… idiot…!!"
"Waaaahhh!! Sob sob!!"
Zoro smirked slightly. At last, things had ended well.
Sanji and Chopper joined the crying mess too.
"Idiot!! Idiot!! Sob sob!!"
Nami laughed while crying.
"A bunch of idiots…"
Yes.
A bunch of stubborn idiots.
After a long time, everyone finally calmed down.
Usopp sniffed.
"Everyone… if we get a new ship, is 100 million Belly enough? The previous 200 million Belly…"
Sandy said casually, "Actually, when you were captured back then, I already knew—"
"WHAT?!" Everyone except Luffy and Nami shouted.
Sanji glared.
"Hey, Sandy… explain yourself or I'll kick you senseless."
Usopp grabbed Sandy by the collar.
"So when I was beaten back then—you knew?!"
"I knew," Sandy admitted.
DUANG!!
Usopp punched him.
"You bastard!! You watched me almost die and didn't help!?"
"Exactly!! If the money hadn't been stolen, none of this would've happened!!"
"Yeah!! And Usopp got beaten up—it's all your fault!!"
Sandy sat up, rolling his eyes.
"I did it because I knew Merry was finished. And Franky said he was buying materials for the world's best ship—so I let him go.
Second, Usopp—after this incident, your entire mentality leveled up!
Third—when the Captain makes a decision, we should obey!
Damn it!! I did all this for you idiots! Instead of thanking me, you beat me up! I'm so wronged—"
CRACK!! BANG!! WHAM!!
Before he could finish, he was beaten again.
…
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic One Piece: My Flirtatious System Adventure is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection.
📚 Category: One Piece (Chapters 1–657)
One complete 18+ novel has been uploaded on Patreon, guaranteed to give you an intense and thrilling experience.
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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