Zoro and Nika, two kindred spirits in their love for drink, were downing enormous wooden tankards larger than their own heads. Their bold, competitive drinking drew many unconvinced Shandians and Skypieans who came to challenge them. After several rounds, everyone was slumped over, leaving only these two monsters still downing cup after cup. Nika had truly turned into a bona fide drunkard.
Was it really the right choice to let her out in the first place?
Luffy was starting to have doubts.
Sanji, meanwhile, fluttered about like a butterfly among the cute Skypiean girls with their little wings, elegantly inviting them to dance, his eyes transformed into hearts, his service spirit at maximum.
Merry sat on Luffy's shoulder, swinging her little legs.
On Luffy's left sat Nami, on his right Vivi. The two of them seemed particularly interested in feeding Luffy. Their own small stomachs couldn't hold much, so after eating their fill, they kept passing him roasted slabs of giant beast meat and Skypiean specialty fruits, watching as Luffy's cheeks bulged like a chipmunk's.
"Silly Luffy, that one's not done yet!"
"Vivi, help him cool it with your wind."
"Watch me." Vivi used her ability.
Whoosh.
Luffy felt much more comfortable.
Robin sat quietly not far away, holding a cup of fruit wine. The flickering light of the bonfire played across her refined profile.
Watching the lively scene before her, a satisfied smile graced her lips.
As the feast wore on past midnight, many people, overcome by drink or exhaustion, found places to rest.
Nami couldn't sleep.
Perhaps the gold was too stimulating, or maybe there were other reasons.
When she tried to sleep, she keenly sensed the air growing damp. Clouds were gathering in the sky; it seemed rain was imminent.
The temporary cave where they were resting housed only the women. Nami glanced out into the pitch-black night. Luffy was, as expected, not there.
Based on her understanding of Luffy, that training maniac was probably somewhere doing his devilish exercises at this very moment.
So Nami got up, intending to go remind Luffy.
"Um, I'll go with you."
A slightly shy voice sounded beside her, startling Nami, who had been about to sneak out.
Turning, she saw it was Vivi.
Looking at Nami, Vivi whispered an apology. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
"No need to apologize for something like that." Nami waved her hand, though internally she thought, Was I spacing out because I was worried about that rubber idiot?
How infuriating.
So, the two walked out of the cave together in tacit agreement, stepping into the cool night breeze.
As they walked, they chatted. Neither had explicitly stated their goal, but they both seemed to know—the destination was to find their missing captain.
Was this a strange sort of tacit understanding?
After a moment of silence, Nami smiled and praised, "You're really amazing, Vivi. You actually got the Shandia and the Skypieans to sit down and talk properly."
A gentle smile appeared on Vivi's face. "It was all Luffy's doing." She was modest.
If Luffy hadn't defeated Enel, displaying overwhelming power and breaking the deadlock, her words likely wouldn't have carried much weight.
Somehow, as they spoke, the conversation naturally turned to Luffy.
Nami nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Ever since the East Blue, I've always been helped by Luffy."
Why am I suddenly praising him?
He's just a pervert of a captain.
Vivi unconsciously gathered a small, gentle whirlwind in her hand and softly agreed. "Luffy is always like that. He seems reckless, but he always does the most crucial things."
Her tone carried a hint of reliance she herself hadn't noticed.
As they spoke, they looked at each other and smiled. A feeling of sharing a secret about someone filled the air.
Then Nami said, "But you don't need to worry too much about that guy. He's probably just training somewhere right now. He's got energy like a monster."
"I... I'm not worried about Luffy!" Vivi reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her face reddening as she quickly denied it.
Nami rolled her eyes, then sighed with feeling. "You know, when I first met Luffy in the East Blue, he wasn't like he is now. He was a bit goofy back then too, but not this diligent. I don't know why, but it seems like one day he just suddenly started going all out, getting really intense."
"That's true. Luffy doesn't really seem like the type who would plan so meticulously or work so hard." Vivi's face was a little red as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The Luffy in her mind was supposed to be more carefree, more prone to causing trouble.
"Mhm."
"Vivi." Nami suddenly called her name, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
"What is it?"
Vivi looked at Nami. The orange-haired girl's eyes reflected the dying embers of a distant bonfire. But in the next moment, her composure was disrupted by Nami's following words.
"Do you think his old, free-spirited, lazy personality was better, or is this new, almost excessively diligent personality better?"
Nami asked casually, as if discussing the weather, but her gaze swept subtly over Vivi's face, carrying a trace of imperceptible inquiry.
Her question seemed to be about more than just personality.
Does everyone have this question?
Do you like a person, or do you like a personality?
People change.
It's like when a popular idol suddenly has their reputation ruined. What was everyone's impression of that big star Uta's personality? You could probably tell from her singing. Before meeting Uta, Nami had quite liked that singer.
But in reality?
That girl's personality is a bit nasty, isn't it?
Not exactly hateful, but definitely not something to like very much.
Vivi barely hesitated. She shook her head gently, her tone firm. "I don't think Luffy has changed at all. From the first time I met him, he was like that.
He would do anything for his nakama. Once he decides on something, he sees it through. It's just that what appears on the surface seems a bit different from what he shows in his heart now."
It's like some people who seem honest and simple on the outside are actually calculating.
But Luffy, who sometimes seems a bit foolish and acts on whims on the surface—his inner convictions have never wavered. And he's willing to put in any effort, even change some outward habits, for those convictions.
Vivi concluded, "So, to me, no matter what kind of Luffy he is, it's all a real part of him..."
It's all the one I like the most...
Vivi suddenly caught herself, violently cutting off her words, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.
Nami was testing her!
Seems like... I've been found out?
Vivi and Nami looked at each other. In each other's eyes, they saw a certain understanding and a hint of awkwardness, before both quickly averted their gazes in unison.
***
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