Grove 18...
Jewelry Bonney and Vivi were locked in a staring contest.
"So you're the Soaring Dragon Pirates?" Bonney asked, her gaze shifting to Vivi with an unfriendly glint.
Before her, Foxy, Buggy, and the others were bustling about their tasks, along with an old man who seemed to enjoy nothing more than lounging and reading the newspaper.
Ryuuto's parting words still echoed in Vivi's ears: "You take care of this kid for a bit!"
*What kid?* Vivi complained internally. *Aside from her tone, there's nothing childish about this person!*
"What's wrong?" Vivi immediately went on the verbal offensive. "You're a member of the Soaring Dragon Pirates now too!"
"Hmph, I never said I was joining! This was all conditional!" Bonney shot back, hands on her hips, her voice full of dissatisfaction. She was furious that Ryuuto had just ditched her and disappeared.
"Hahahaha, such energetic young people!" Crocus chuckled, finding the sight of the two glaring at each other, neither willing to back down, quite amusing.
Yuyo and Tots just looked at Bonney with a sense of helplessness before sitting down across from Crocus to have some tea.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Yuyo murmured, replaying the recent events in his mind. "Why did the three of us suddenly believe what Ryuuto said and just follow him here?"
Perhaps it was Ryuuto's overwhelming presence.
Perhaps it was Bonney's own impulsiveness.
Perhaps it was the recent news he'd been reading.
Yuyo couldn't help but ponder the reasons. In the end, Bonney had no other options, so she decided to trust Ryuuto one more time.
On the way here, Ryuuto had already told her that Kuma was currently at Marine Headquarters, Marineford. Rescuing him would require an opportunity—an opportunity to get Kuma to come to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Just learning Kuma's whereabouts was an unexpected blessing for Bonney. Hearing that Ryuuto also had a plan to save him, she had no choice but to suppress her impulses and place her trust in him once more.
After all, storming Marine Headquarters by herself was completely unrealistic.
Bonney was long accustomed to patience and waiting.
A short while later, a glass of liquor suddenly appeared in Bonney's hand. It seemed she had asked Vivi for it herself.
"Agh! So strong! This is awful!" Bonney spat it out after a single sip. Such a harsh drink was definitely not for kids.
"Hahahahaha!" Crocus burst out laughing at the sight.
"Captain, drink some water, quickly!" Yuyo immediately handed Bonney a glass of water.
"I really don't get why anyone likes to drink this stuff!" After gulping down the water, Bonney pursed her lips and shot a glare at Vivi and the large barrel of alcohol beside her.
"Hmph! Kids aren't allowed to drink," Vivi retorted with a cold snort, giving Bonney a look that spoke volumes.
Instantly, the two were at each other's throats again.
"Could I get a glass?" a tiny figure suddenly hopped onto the barrel and asked Vivi. It was Lole.
"Huh? Are you one of the Tontatta tribe?" Bonney's curiosity was piqued. She snatched Lole up and held him in front of her eyes to get a better look.
"Bonney, put Lole down!" Vivi quickly rescued the small man from Bonney's grasp and gave him a large mug of liquor.
"Humans are so scary!" Lole thought to himself as he clutched the mug and scurried away.
"Why'd you run off so fast!" Bonney grumbled, hands on her hips as she watched Lole disappear.
Before long, the sky began to darken. A magnificent sunset spread from the horizon, its colors washing over the mangrove grove.
Ryuuto had returned. He had just been to the Justice Guild's office to check in. It had been a quiet day, with no one coming to claim a bounty. That was to be expected; it would take time for the first person to take the plunge. They just had to let the idea simmer for a while.
Under the evening glow, the pink pigtails peeking out from under Bonney's brown, skull-adorned cowboy hat were dyed a brilliant gold.
"I'm a user of the Paramecia-type Age-Age Fruit..." Bonney announced loudly to Vivi, chewing on a lollipop stick.
"That's right. Bonney's ability allows her to turn her enemies into children or old people," Ryuuto chimed in, having overheard their conversation.
"Huh?" Bonney's eyes snapped toward Ryuuto as he returned. Hearing him speak, her expression filled with suspicion.
*How does Ryuuto know everything?* Bonney's mind raced, trying to figure out where she'd slipped up. She was sure she had never used her Devil Fruit abilities on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Vivi was already used to this.
Crocus just smiled and shook his head, his gaze returning to the auction house silhouetted against the sunset.
Yuyo and Tots stared at Ryuuto, their eyes scrutinizing him. To them, he was an enigma.
Ryuuto glanced at Bonney and continued, "There's a lot I know. I also know that your hero is Joy Boy, and the first time you ever fought, you did it by transforming into your Nika form."
"What?! How in the world do you know all that?" This time, Bonney's expression was one of pure shock.
The only people who knew about Nika were herself and her father. How did Ryuuto know, too? Bonney looked him up and down, even beginning to suspect that this man had been sent by her father.
"Joy Boy?" Vivi, Yuyo, and Tots all asked in unison.
"Joy Boy, you say?" Crocus turned his gaze to Ryuuto. It was the first time he had heard that name from his lips. Crocus couldn't help but speculate about Ryuuto's true identity.
*I knew it. Ryuuto doesn't act like a rookie at all.* Crocus's expression was calm, but his mind drifted back to that year on Laugh Tale...
"It seems this world is starting to get a little more interesting," Crocus murmured to himself.
"Hahahaha, Bonney, let me see it! Show me your 'Power of I Reckon'!" Ryuuto said, changing the subject, mostly to satisfy his own curiosity.
"What?" Bonney didn't quite understand.
"Your Nika form!" Ryuuto had to clarify.
"You jerk! Why should I listen to you!" Bonney yelled, her ten-year-old rebellious streak flaring up.
"You *do* want to find your father, don't you...?" Ryuuto said with a villainous smirk, his tone dark and menacing.
"Distorted Future!" Bonney grit her teeth and shot Ryuuto a hateful glare. Leaping into the air, she let out a great shout. Her arm swelled to a gigantic size, and she brought it crashing down on Ryuuto.
*Hahahaha, this is about 98% similar to Luffy's Gear Third, isn't it?* Ryuuto thought to himself.
He coated his right hand in Armament Haki and casually raised it above his head.
BOOM!
Bonney's massive fist smashed directly into Ryuuto's own.
A tremendous shockwave erupted from the point of impact.