Bon Clay stood frozen.
Sweat dripped down his face.
His eyes were locked onto Kael, wide with fear.
A pirate…
A strong pirate…
He knows I'm from Baroque Works…
His thoughts spiraled.
He's definitely going to kill me!!
"NOOO!!"
Before anyone could react, he threw himself at Kael's feet again, clutching onto his legs like a lifeline.
"Please don't kill me!!
I thought we were friends!!"
He cried loudly—loud enough for the entire ocean to hear.
Tears poured endlessly.
So much so—
That Kael's pants were now slightly wet.
Kael looked down at him.
Silence.
Then—
A sigh.
"…You're unbelievable."
With one hand, Kael grabbed him and lifted him up effortlessly—like picking up a child.
Bon Clay blinked in surprise, feet dangling in the air.
Ignoring his reaction, Kael spoke calmly—
"Just answer the question already."
"I never said I'm going to kill you, did I?"
Bon Clay blinked again.
"…You're not going to kill me?"
Kael shook his head slightly.
Bon Clay's face lit up instantly.
"THANK Y—"
"Not yet."
Bon froze.
Completely.
Kael put him back down.
"Now…"
"What should we call you?"
Bon Clay straightened immediately, as if nothing had happened.
"Call me Bon-chan!!"
He raised his hand dramatically and winked at the crew.
"My friends call me Bon-chan."
The girls visibly shivered.
Kael simply nodded.
"Alright then."
"I'm Kael Sylvarion. You can call me Ka—"
"KAEL-CHAN!!"
Bon Clay spun on his heels dramatically, pointing at him with sparkling eyes.
"My new friend, Kael-chan!!"
Kael stared at him.
Flatly.
Behind him—
"Pfft—"
Kael flinched.
He slowly turned.
Nami wasn't even trying to hide it.
Kaya and Tashigi had their hands over their mouths, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
(Damn… Nami, you're corrupting my sweet Kaya and Tashigi as well.)
"You deserve it!!" Nami muttered.
Beside her, even Vivi was covering her mouth, shoulders shaking slightly.
(Not you too, Princess…)
Kael sighed and turned back.
Bon Clay was still going—
"My friend Kael-chan, Kael-chan, Kae—"
"Alright, enough."
Bon flinched instantly.
Kael's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Time for the second question."
"Answer it as if your life depends on it."
The tone shift was immediate.
The women straightened.
Focused.
Curious.
Kael slowly unsheathed his sword and rested it over his shoulder.
The metallic sound alone made Bon Clay tremble.
Sweat poured down his face again.
Then—
He suddenly straightened.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
His expression turned… oddly resolute.
He raised a thumbs up.
"Go ahead…"
"Kill me!!"
"It's…" sob
"It's…"sob again
Kael's eyebrow twitched.
"IT'S AN HONOR TO DIE AT MY FRIEND'S HANDS!!!"
The crying intensified.
Even more dramatic than before.
Behind them—
Nami grabbed her head.
"My god… where did this idiot even come from…"
Bon Clay turned slightly, still crying.
"But cut my back so I don't see my blood!! Otherwise it'll hurt more!!"
Tashigi frowned.
"What kind of logic is that…?"
Meanwhile—
Smack.
"OUCH!! IT HURTS!!"
Kael had already stepped forward and smacked the back of his head.
"And you want me to cut you with a sword?"
Bon Clay winced, holding his head.
Kael sighed again.
"If you're done…"
"Let's answer the second question."
Bon blinked.
"…You don't want to kill me?"
"Of course not."
"That's why I'm asking questions."
Bon's face lit up again.
"MY FRIEND KAEL-CH—"
"Shut up."
Bon flinched.
"Now stand up."
Kael's voice turned firm.
"And answer properly."
"…Though it's not really a question."
Bon Clay nodded eagerly.
"Ask anything, my friend!! I can even give my life for yo—"
"Don't."
Bon paused.
"…Huh?"
Kael looked at him seriously.
"Don't ever give away your life again."
Silence.
Behind him—
"…Again?"
The women exchanged looks.
Kael paused.
Realizing.
"…What I mean is—"
"There's no need to play the hero every time."
"Even your friends might not want you to sacrifice yourself for them."
Bon Clay hesitated.
"But…"
Kael continued, voice steady.
"If you're ever in a situation where only one between you and your friend can survive…"
"Don't accept it."
Bon Clay's eyes widened slightly.
"I'll make sure—"
"If that situation ever arises…"
"Both of you walk away alive."
A pause.
Bon Clay stared at him.
"…Why would you do that?"
Kael smiled.
Warm.
Simple.
"You said it yourself."
"Because we're friends."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then—
"KAEL-CHANNN—!!"
Bon Clay lunged at him again—
Only to be stopped mid-air.
Kael's palm pressed firmly against his face.
"Alright."
"No need to be emotional every five seconds."
Bon slowly stopped struggling.
"…Okay."
Kael removed his hand.
"Shall we continue?"
Bon nodded quickly.
"Good."
Kael raised two fingers.
"Here."
Behind him—
The women froze.
"…Wait."
"Isn't that—"
"You have two options."
"It is!!"
Kael continued calmly.
"First—"
"Leave Baroque Works. Right now."
"Or second—"
"Our friendship ends here."
"And if we meet again, I'll—"
"OPTION ONE!! OPTION ONE!!"
Bon Clay shouted instantly.
Not even a second of hesitation.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
Then smiled.
"A wise decision."
Behind him, the women also smiled.
If Kael gave him a chance…
He can't be a bad person.
Nami crossed her arms and smirked.
"Oh?"
"So scared of dying now?"
"You didn't even think before answering."
Bon Clay looked at her mockingly.
"What are you saying, you evil cutie!!"
"I'm not afraid to die, but—"
He turned toward Kael, expression softening.
"Losing my real friend is my greatest fear."
Nami's mouth twitched.
"…Evil?"
Kaya smiled gently.
"Looks like Kael-san made a good friend today."
Bon huffed proudly.
"Hmph!! Of course he did!!"
Then he pointed at Nami.
"But some villains think otherwise!!"
Nami's fist clenched.
"…Villain?"
Bon continued, turning to Kael.
"Kael-chan!! Is she really your crewmate?!"
"I'm warning you—she's not good!!"
"She wants to break our friendsh—"
"I'LL BREAK YOUR BONES, YOU DAMN IDIOT!!!"
Nami finally snapped.
Bon Clay jumped back.
"AHHH!!"
Tashigi quickly grabbed Nami from behind.
"Nami, calm down!! I'm sure he didn't mean that!"
"NO!! LET ME GO, TASHIGI!!"
"I'M GOING TO KILL TWO IDIOTS TODAY!!"
Kael blinked.
"…Huh?"
"What did I do?"
"You brought this idiot onto our ship!!"
"Wha—"
"Shut up!!"
Behind them—
Kaya and Vivi exchanged a look.
Vivi tilted her head slightly.
"…Is this normal here?"
Kaya smiled helplessly.
"…What do you think?"
Vivi's lips curved into a soft smile.
"I like it."
"You must never get bored, right?"
Kaya chuckled.
"That's right."
Amidst the chaos—
The shouting.
The arguing.
The laughter.
The Sovereign Gale sailed forward.
Unbothered.
Steady.
Carrying with it—
A growing crew.
New bonds.
And yet another unpredictable addition.
Toward Alabasta.
Toward destiny.
A few hours later—
The chaos from earlier had finally settled.
The deck of the Sovereign Gale was calm once again, the sea stretching endlessly ahead as the ship sailed steadily forward.
Bon Clay stood beside Kael, holding a bowl of warm soup.
Slurp—
"Ahh… this is amazing!!"
Slurp—slurp—
"OUCH!!"
Nami's hand had already connected with the back of his head.
"Why did you do that?!!"
"Drink quietly, idiot!!" Nami snapped. "Where are your manners?!"
Bon frowned, clutching his head.
"But it tastes better this way!"
Nami's fist clenched again.
"Oh yeah? You know what else would taste good?"
She raised her hand, ready to strike.
Bon instantly flinched.
"Okay okay!! I'll drink quietly!!"
He turned away slightly, muttering under his breath—
"This woman really likes to bother people. Even my Kael-chan…"
Nami's eye twitched.
"What did you say?"
Bon stiffened.
"NOTHING!!"
—
A few minutes later—
The bowl was empty.
Bon Clay let out a satisfied sigh before turning toward Kael.
"So, Kael-chan… you're heading to Alabasta for Mr. 0 and the other agents, right?"
"Yeah," Kael replied calmly. "But don't worry. You're safe now that you're no longer part of them."
Bon blinked.
Then his expression shifted.
"…Yeah."
"I'm not…"
There was a brief pause.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What?"
"Sad about it?"
Bon shook his head quickly.
"No! It's not that…"
He hesitated.
"It's just… I don't have a purpose anymore."
The words came out quieter this time.
"I joined Baroque Works to find a purpose in my life but…"
"It's gone now."
Kael nodded slightly, as if he had already expected this.
"Then how about joining a pirate crew?"
Bon looked up.
"Traveling with them… that should give you a purpose, right?"
Bon blinked.
So did the women behind them.
Then suddenly—
"KAEL-CHAN!!"
Bon's eyes widened dramatically.
"ARE YOU INVITING ME TO JOIN YOUR CREW?!!"
Before Kael could even open his mouth—
"NO!! ABSOLUTELY NO!!"
Nami's voice cut through the air instantly.
She pointed at Bon with full force.
"Just Kael is already too much to handle!!"
"Wha--"
"Shut Up!!"
"I am NOT dealing with another idiot on this ship!!"
Bon froze.
Then slowly—
His shoulders slumped.
"I see…"
"…So I'm going to be alone again…"
Tears began forming again.
"Alone in this cruel world…"
"My heart… shattered…"
"I have no one…"
He dropped to his knees, spiraling into another dramatic breakdown.
Kael placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What are you talking about?"
Bon paused.
"…Huh?"
Kael's voice was steady.
"You'll never be alone."
Bon's eyes widened.
"REALLY?!"
"Does that mean I can join your crew?!"
"But that evil wom—"
Smack.
"OUCH!!"
Nami lowered her hand.
"Say that again."
Kael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Alright, calm down. Both of you."
"I never said he would join our crew."
Everyone paused.
"…Huh?"
Bon blinked in confusion.
"Then Kael-chan… which crew are you going to make me join?"
"What if—"
Kael smiled.
"Don't worry."
"They're good people."
Then he asked casually—
"By the way… how are your navigation skills?"
Bon tilted his head, thinking for a moment.
"Well… I am the navigator on my ship."
"So… it should be good?"
Kael nodded.
"Alright."
"Decent navigation skills… and a strong fighter."
A faint smile formed.
"I know exactly the crew that needs that."
Bon's eyes sparkled again.
"REALLY?!"
"Kael-chan, you're not lying to me, are you?"
"Of course not."
Behind them—
Tashigi frowned slightly.
"He's a good fighter?"
Kael glanced at her.
"Don't judge him based on his… personality."
"Among all the bounty hunters and Baroque Works agents—"
"He's the best in hand-to-hand combat."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
"THIS GUY??"
Vivi looked genuinely surprised.
"Is he even stronger than Mr. 1?"
Kael shook his head.
"In raw strength? No."
"But Bon is far more skilled."
"And much more versatile in a fight."
The women exchanged looks.
Their expressions shifted slightly.
A bit more respect now.
A bit less doubt.
Meanwhile—
"KAEL-CHAAAN!!"
Bon Clay lunged toward him again, tears streaming.
"You think so highly of me?!"
"I can die of happiness right now!!"
Smack.
"OUCH!!"
Kael lowered his hand.
"…Don't."
He sighed.
"Alright."
"Let's talk to your future crew."
He turned his head slightly.
"Kaya."
She blinked, then straightened.
"Yes, Kael-san?"
"Bring out the transponder snail."
Her eyes lit up with realization.
"Kael-san… do you mean—"
Kael grinned.
"Yeah."
"Call the Straw Hats."