Chapter 387 - 226

Chapter 226: The Captain and Navigator's Unspoken Feelings!"Mhm..."A low moan, as melodious as a nightingale's first song, rippled from the corner of the room soaked in Moonlight.The sound was mixed with exhaustion, satisfaction, and a lingering tremor after tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time.Moonlight shone obliquely through the porthole, cutting geometric patches of light onto the messy sheets.Beads of sweat rolled down Nami's smooth back, each drop refracting fine, soul-stirring crystalline light under the Moonlight.Her body rose and fell slightly, each breath causing the graceful curves of her shoulder blades to flicker in and out of the light and shadow.This was indeed a hearty "battle."At this moment, Nami lay softly against Luffy's chest.The elasticity and warmth of his rubber chest became the most comfortable harbor,She could hear the steady, powerful heartbeat within his thoracic cavity.Her long orange hair was completely disheveled, clinging damply to her sweaty neck and shoulders.A few strands of hair stuck to her slightly parted red lips, trembling slightly with the rhythm of her light panting.Each breath carried the unique scent of orange incense, sea breeze, and a blend of their brand-new intimacy."You bastard..."Nami lifted her face, the Moonlight illuminating the wet tear tracks at the corners of her eyes.It was unclear whether they were physiological tears from pain or the aftermath of an emotional flood.She glared at Luffy, the anger in her eyes like a fire drenched by rain—unable to burn, leaving only misty vapor and warmth."Clearly it was my first time... yet you bullied me like this!!"Her fist pounded softly against his chest; it was less of a punch and more of a caress.Luffy looked down at her.Moonlight cast shadows of his eyelashes on his face, and his usually carefree smile had now settled into a deeper curve.It was a kind of... tenderness after being satiated.Like a wild beast lazily squinting its eyes in the sun after a full meal."Tch,"He suddenly laughed, his finger hooking a strand of her damp hair,"And here I thought you were so tough?"His finger slid along the hair to her ear:"I didn't expect you to be a little girl who knows nothing."Nami's cheeks flared red again.She opened her mouth to argue, but was pulled even closer by Luffy's tightening arm."So what if I am?"Nami raised her chin,"From beginning to end, I've only ever liked you!"Her eyes shone like tempered gems under the Moonlight:"Isn't it... normal not to know how?!"She spoke with complete confidence, as if it were only natural.After finishing, she didn't forget to curl her lip and add:"Unlike a certain 'World's Number One Beauty' who seems to be quite experienced."It was sour, yet carried a victor's small sense of pride."Give it a rest."Luffy laughed and rubbed her hair, his palm sliding down the strands to her back, feeling the graceful curve of her spine."Go to sleep, it's already very late."As he spoke, he made a move to get up.His arm slipped out from under her, bringing a gust of cool air and taking away the body heat she was leaning on.Nami was stunned.In that instant, an unbidden panic surged into her heart like cold seawater.She watched Luffy's back as he sat up,Watched him reach for his T-shirt on the floor,Watched his nonchalant attitude—'Luffy, you bastard!'She screamed in her heart.Even though she had already... already done this.She had given him the most precious thing she had guarded for twenty years.Enduring the pain, enduring the shame, even actively cooperating with his reckless and passionate rhythm.And the result?It's over, and you just pull up your pants and leave?Without leaving even a moment for tenderness?Without even a single decent sweet word?An empty sense of loss began to spread from her heart, like a hole in the bottom of a ship, seawater pouring in silently.She felt like she had been taken advantage of for nothing.The thought made her eyes well up again."Wait!"Her voice was faster than her brain's reaction as Nami grabbed Luffy's wrist."You... don't go!"She could hear her own voice trembling.Luffy turned his head.Moonlight shone from behind him, leaving his face hidden in shadow.But Nami could see the helpless and amused expression at the corner of his mouth."Alright, alright."He sighed and lay back down on the bed.The next second, Nami was pulled into a pair of warm, powerful arms.It wasn't the lazy fit from before, but a forceful, tight embrace, as if he wanted to knead her into his body.The unique elasticity and temperature of his rubber body instantly filled all the gaps of her unease."I have to leave a bit early,"Luffy's voice came from above her head, low and serious,"Otherwise, if they find me coming out of your room in the morning..."He didn't finish, but Nami understood.It would cause a sensation.It wasn't a matter of being shy, but... once the relationship between the Captain and the Navigator was made public, the dynamics of the entire ship would change subtly.Sanji might collapse, Usopp would make a big fuss, and Chopper would ask a bunch of innocent yet embarrassing questions... "Mhm."Nami gave a soft response. This time she didn't argue, but simply hugged him tighter.She pressed against him completely naked, skin to skin, with no barriers between them.Luffy's palm patted her back gently, as if coaxing a child to sleep.Outside the window, the Moonlight was cold and gentle.The incense had long since burned out, leaving only the rhythm of their intertwined breathing in the air.The room was quiet and peaceful.Like a harbor after a storm, like a rest after a fierce battle, like... the prologue to a brand-new beginning.Nami closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of his neck.Moisture still hung on her eyelashes, but a curve quietly rose at the corner of her mouth.Whatever.For now... she would forgive this rubber idiot.At least at this moment, this embrace was real.At least when he said "I have to leave a bit early," his arms tightened further.At least... before she completely sank into dreamland, she thought dizzily:At least I'm the second one!!Moonlight moved slowly, crawling from the floor onto the edge of the bed, finally gently covering the two sleeping in each other's arms... The first ray of grey-white just tore open the eastern horizon, and the sunny was still slumbering in the deepest silence before dawn.Luffy's rubber body slid out from the crack of Nami's door like a liquid.His toes touched the ground as lightly as feathers, not even disturbing the dewdrops condensed on the deck.He hunched his back, walking barefoot on the cool wooden planks, his ears perked up alertly, catching every subtle sound on the ship.The hum of the Engine Room, the cooling sound of the kitchen refrigerator, Franky's occasional mechanical sleep-talking... and the steady breathing from Robin's room.Safe.Like a secret agent completing a high-difficulty stealth mission, he tiptoed through the corridor.After confirming no one noticed, he straightened his back and pushed open the door to his own Captain's Quarters!!"Creak."The door hinge made just the right amount of noise to wake a light sleeper.Luffy walked in grandly, his rubber arms stretching in an exaggerated yawn, and he even let out a deliberate yawn:"Ah... I slept so well!"His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the neighboring Usopp to mumble dizzily:"So noisy, Luffy..."Perfect! Luffy gave himself a mental thumbs-up... Two hours later, the morning light already covered the entire lawn.The long table was filled with Sanji's masterpieces:Golden, crispy fried fish fillets, steaming seafood fried rice, a mountain of grilled sausages, and a basket of freshly baked croissants.The aroma of food and the richness of coffee intertwined in the morning breeze."Morning, everyone—"Luffy jumped onto the main seat full of energy, his straw hat worn askew, his smile as bright as the sun overhead.Zoro sat down with a yawn, reaching for a wine bottle before his eyes were even fully open, only to be swatted away by Sanji's spatula:"No alcohol during breakfast!"Robin held her black tea, elegantly flipping through the newspaper delivered by the News Coo this morning.Franky was showing off his mechanical arm's new functions to Chopper. Brook hummed a tune while tuning his violin strings, and Uta discussed the climate characteristics of the East Blue with Yamato while combing her hair.Everything was just as usual.Until... "Eh?"Sanji walked out of the kitchen carrying the last pot of Orange Porridge, his gaze sweeping over the empty seat,"Where is Miss Nami?"He frowned, his cigarette shifting direction between his lips.As the gentleman on the ship who most strictly adhered to the code of chivalry, his concern for ladies was almost instinctive.Luffy was currently busy attacking a plate of egg fried rice, his cheeks stuffed full.Hearing this, he looked up, rice grains still stuck to the corner of his mouth:"Hmm? Nami..."He chewed, swallowed, and said without thinking:"She's probably still sleeping! She was quite tired last night."The words fell.The air went subtly silent for a second.Sanji was stunned.His brain automatically filtered out the literal meaning, rapidly constructing a scenario that fit his perception!!Late at night, the Navigator's workshop was brightly lit.Miss Nami was hunched over a giant sea chart, her orange hair tied up loosely, her brow slightly furrowed.She held a precision ruler in one hand and recorded data rapidly with the other, occasionally looking up at the stars outside the window to calibrate her position.Moonlight spilled over her focused profile, sweat soaking her temples... "Nani!"Sanji's eyes snapped wide open, the hearts in his eyes almost manifesting and erupting:"I didn't expect Miss Nami to be so serious!!""Pulling an all-nighter to draw the charts of the East Blue... working so hard to protect her hometown..."He held his heart in his hands, his entire being enveloped in a pink filter:"A serious Miss Nami is just too lovely!!""This professional spirit, this deep affection for her hometown, this...""Hey, Sanji,"Usopp poked him,"Your fantasy bubbles are about to float up to the mast."But Sanji could no longer hear him.He felt as if he were being pulled by an invisible magnetic force, his feet leaving the ground as he drifted lightheartedly toward Nami's room.The pot of Orange Porridge in his hand was still steaming, tracing a sweet path through the air as he moved."Knock, knock-knock."A gentle and rhythmic knocking sounded in the corridor.Sanji stood still in front of Nami's door, cleared his throat, and used the softest, most magnetic voice he could muster:"Miss Nami... good morning."He bowed slightly, like a knight serving a princess:"It's breakfast time!""I specially made your favorite Orange Porridgetoday, using Golden Oranges from Cocoyasi Village, with a bit of honey and South Blue's aromatic rice..."He pressed his ear to the door, trying to catch any movement inside:"A bowl of hot porridge is most comfortable after working all night.""I've also prepared refreshing citrus tea, and those Cloud Island crepes you said you wanted to try last time..."Inside the room.Nami had actually been awake for a long time.She had woken up when Luffy sneaked out.Right now, she was wrapped in her blanket, burying her burning face in the pillow.Her body still carried the lingering ache from last night's intensity, and a certain place was even... She bit her lip, both ashamed and annoyed.Then she heard Sanji's voice.As well as that phrase "working all night"... "That rubber idiot!!!"She screamed in her heart.What "she was quite tired last night," that way of saying it! That tone!Outside the door, Sanji continued:"Miss Nami? If you're not awake yet, I'll leave the porridge in the insulated box.""Do you need me to bring today's newspaper and chart materials over first? Or...""Sanji."Nami's voice came through the door, carrying the slightly raspy laziness of someone who had just woken up:"I... I'm still a bit sleepy, just leave the porridge outside. Thank you."There was a trace of undetectable trembling in her voice."Understood!"Sanji immediately stood at attention,"Please rest well! Call me whenever you need anything!"He carefully placed the porridge pot on a specially-made insulated rack by the door, and even thoughtfully attached a small bouquet of wildflowers, still wet with dew, that he had picked from the lawn this morning.Then, humming a song, he drifted back to the dining room.In the dining room, Luffy had already finished his fifth plate of fried rice and was stretching his arm to reach the sausages across the table.Robin turned a page of her newspaper, a meaningful curve rising at the corner of her mouth.The sunlight outside the window grew even brighter.The sunny continued eastward, her wake as straight as an arrow.And in a certain room, the Navigator buried her flushed face deeper into her pillow, while beating up a certain rubber Captain a hundred times in her heart, yet she couldn't help but... quietly sniff the lingering scent of that idiot on the pillow.