On the night before their official departure, the village hosted a grand feast to bless Arion and 2B as they set out to sea.
The villagers were warm and generous as heroes who saved the village deserve nothing less.
Under their blessings, even Arion—who rarely drinks—was poured a few cups.
The banquet lasted late into the night.
The next morning, Arion and 2B, sent off by the villagers, set sail and began their adventure, waving goodbye to a village they had lived in for nearly a month and probably would never return to.
The sails billowed, the sky was clear, and even the currents seemed to align with the ship's course—truly smooth sailing.
As Captain, Arion stood on the mast's lookout, feeling the sea breeze and a surge of high spirits.
This voyage was headed for Organ Islands, then Orange Town.
The going-to-sea mission had to be completed on time, but rewards could only be issued upon reaching a town, and then a lottery would be held to recruit new crew.
Although there are towns in their current sea area—East Blue with places like Nighteen Town, Far Harbor, and Marines' 16th Branch—this area fell under Captain Nezumi's jurisdiction and Arlong Pirates lurked nearby, so they wouldn't stay long.
For now, there were few people to confront Arlong Pirates directly.
Not fearing attacks, but fearing that the ship could be damaged.
So they decided to circle East Blue first, see if a mission triggers, recruit a partner, and then head to Grand Line if possible.
After gazing at the sea for a while, they went up to the deck where the wheel is, operated by the Assistant.
In a sense, this was AI navigation ahead of its time.
2B was there, wearing a black split-long dress with puffed sleeves, exuding a cool aura.
But when she saw Arion, that cold aura melted away, a faint smile curling at her lips.
"Let's go back to the cabin to rest," Arion suggested, "leave steering and lookout to Assistant."
"Mm," 2B said, reaching out to pat Assistant's smooth, shiny head, "You've got it. If anything comes up, let me know."
"Roger."
Arion went downstairs to the captain's cabin located in the stern cabin. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around 2B's slender waist and kissed her sexy lips.
Sailing was inevitably boring, with few ways to pass the time.
Fishing, playing board games, or reading were pretty much the only options.
There was also the option of working out. The ship had a gym equipped with various fitness machines Arion had commissioned craftsmen to build.
These included butterfly machines, resistance bands, and spin bikes, among others.
But compared to all that, Arion preferred spending time with 2B, doing things they both enjoyed to kill time.
Clothes fell to the floor as they tumbled onto the bed. Arion gave 2B's plump rear a light slap, and she obediently flipped over, arching her back and raising her tail high. The curve of her waist and the fullness of her rear formed a perfect, mesmerizing arc.
Arion caressed the smooth, flawless roundness, wondering if it was just his imagination. After nearly a month of his "care," it seemed even plumper and more supple.
Though the Assistant had assured him that 2B was an android and her machine body wouldn't physically grow, scans showed noticeable changes in both her "snowy peaks" and "full moon."
Even the Assistant couldn't explain it.
But it was a welcome development, regardless.
After a few playful strikes to the center, scattering morning dew everywhere, he gripped her hips and slowly slid inside.
2B's toes curled tightly, then gradually relaxed. She let out a heavy sigh, as if squeezed.
This was the place closest to her black box. No matter how many times they did this, she could never fully brace herself against the sensation.
It was a fulfillment of both body and mind.
Arion was no different. His hips moved uncontrollably, their loud collisions drowning out even the sound of waves seeping into the cabin.
This was their first time on the new ship, and Arion's excitement was overwhelming— the thrill of a wedding night.
The only regret was that this wasn't 2B's first time.
Well, not entirely.
Arion glanced at her anus, which twitched under the sunlight's intrusion, glistening with moisture from the waves' splashes. Unable to resist, he pressed his thumb against it.
The moment he did, he felt 2B's machine body tremble and heat up, as if she were on the verge of a short-circuit from overloaded data processing—just like their first time.
"Not there…"
"Why not?" Arion savored the warmth and contractions of her "sunflower" while gripping 2B's arm, pulling her upper body up to kiss her panting lips.
"That area isn't part of the reproductive module. It's connected to the digestive system… for waste disposal."
"But you don't even use it, do you?" Arion's thumb was already fully inside. "I've never seen you use it once."
"It's not standard protocol…" 2B bit her lip, overwhelmed by a pleasure unlike anything she'd felt before.
"Protocols don't matter. Plenty of things are used in ways they weren't designed for."
Arion kissed her neck, his hands and life-data transmitter moving in tandem.
"Like your mouth. It's meant for talking and eating, but you also use it to kiss me and… other things."
"That's different…"
"It's fine," Arion whispered softly in her ear before redirecting his "army's" advance.
Target: anus.
The moment he did, 2B shuddered as if struck.
Deviating from her intended design, this taboo sensation amplified her pleasure, driving her to instinctively adjust her position to better accommodate Arion's data-transfer protocol.
Even if it was just an invalid data transfer, eventually converted into energy for her machine body to absorb.
But by now, 2B had learned to enjoy the process, not just the result.
By the time Arion had expended all his energy, he was too spent to move. He held 2B, drenched in sweat, savoring the lingering afterglow.
2B felt the same. The dual assault had been too much for her.
After lying there for a long while, 2B finally sat up.
"It's noon. What would you like to eat? I'll go get it."
Since they were at sea, they had to rely on preserved rations.
There were all sorts of ready-to-eat options: dried fish, bread, canned goods, jam, and more, all stocked in abundance.
"Just bring me some bread and canned meat."
Arion would've preferred meat sauce noodles, but considering 2B had no cooking experience and he was too lazy to move, dry rations would have to do.
"Okay." 2B grabbed a tissue to wipe herself and Arion down, tidying up briefly before picking up her clothes from the floor and dressing. Then she left the captain's cabin.
After a while, instead of 2B returning with food, the Assistant's loud alarm blared through the ship.