"Kaya, what's wrong? You're shaking so much." Feeling the pillow behind his head bounce again and again, Arton paused his diary and glanced back, puzzled.
"N-no, it's nothing. I was just thinking… what kind of person Robin really is. To be bounty-posted for 80 million at such a young age…" Kaya murmured.
"Right—you're from the East Blue, so the Grand Line's history isn't second nature." Arton smiled. "Since you're curious, I'll tell you about Robin."
Kaya already knew much from the diary, but hearing Arton speak the tale out loud—the bleakness of it—made her face soften with pity. "Miss Robin's past twenty years were so hard… Captain, why don't we let her stay aboard?"
She leaned close, lips by his ear, voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh?" Arton turned, surprised by the plea shining on Kaya's lovely face. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I just… feel sorry for her," Kaya said.
"Pity, huh… She is pitiable. But it wasn't we who made her that way." Arton slowly shook his head. "You heard me before. She's betrayed a lot of people. Even if it was for self-preservation, that's not our burden to carry. Knowing her past doesn't mean we have to pay for it. I am interested in her but if bringing her aboard risks betrayal or danger to us, I won't invite her."
Arton was no longer a lone wolf. By his side stood Carina, Nami, Kaya—and the women who already belonged to him, Uta and Tashigi. They were his partners, his family. For them, he had to keep the Flameblade Pirates safe. Anyone who might fracture that safety—even a heroine from his own doujinshi—would be approached with extreme caution. If he ever accepted such a person, it would only be after thorough testing.
"I… I don't think Robin would betray us," Kaya whispered, head bowed. But without being able to flash the copy's panels, she lacked the argument to truly sway him.
"Let's give it time, Kaya. She's still on our ship anyway. We'll watch her for a while, then decide whether she comes aboard for real." He chuckled. "Speaking of which, I'm a bit thirsty. Could you get me a drink?"
"A drink? O-okay, I'll prepare—"
"No need to go anywhere," Arton said, nodding at the ready supply right in front of him—Kaya's generous chest, covered only by a thin scrap of cloth. "If you just remove that, I can drink my fill. Also… isn't this outfit the worst of both worlds? Half covered, half not—it's nice, sure. But sometimes throwing it all open is cooler, you know?"
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
Kaya followed his gaze down, then back to his smile—her cheeks instantly ignited scarlet. All the careful words she'd gathered to argue Robin's case collapsed into a flustered silence.
"Haha, I'm kidding—don't mind me," Arton said, satisfied he'd diverted her, and turned back to the window. Kaya was shy; he had no wish to push her too hard.
Chapter 382 — Robin Plays the Beauty Card
Anyway, Kaya's chest may be large, but it hasn't exactly reached the… lactation stage. Even if Arton wanted a drink, there's nothing to drink. Watching his back, Kaya let out a long breath of relief—only for Arton to speak first. "Since you're already here, come in."
"Hm?" Kaya blinked. A beat later, her Observation Haki sensed a presence outside the door—faintly familiar yet new. Robin.
Startled, she hurried to straighten her clothes, wrapping her coat tight to fully hide the ominous pair. Arton, although he didn't turn around, could tell exactly what she was doing just from the rustle. For a moment, he felt a flicker of blame toward their visitor.
"I'm coming in." The door opened, and Robin stepped through in a tight qipao with a deep keyhole cutout at the chest. Each step let the high slit flare, baring long, toned legs to Arton and Kaya alike. "I hope I'm not intruding."
Tray in hand—teapot and cups—she smiled. Catching Kaya's flustered tugging at her neckline, Robin's smile deepened.
"You know whether you're intruding," Arton said dryly.
"My apologies." She set the tray down, voice warm. "But I brought you fresh tea. Perhaps you could forgive me for the tea… or for honoring your request to try a fitted qipao on board?"
Robin shifted closer, turning her body just so. Her left leg bent, the slit blooming wider—a deliberate tableau for Arton's eyes.
"Hm… overall, not bad," Arton said, narrowing his eyes. "But you think just showing me that is enough to make up for it?"
Joking aside, he'd just been enjoying Kaya's warm, soft pillow. The moment Robin arrived, Kaya had shyly pulled away. Of course he was a little miffed.
"In that case… how about this?" Robin poured him a steaming cup, then stepped behind the chair and eased forward—pressing his occiput into the warmth behind that keyhole cutout, letting bare skin meet where fabric parted.
"Tch. I guess that's… acceptable," Arton smacked his lips. Robin couldn't match Kaya's scale, and the qipao cutout didn't give more skin than before, but the effort was earnest. He wasn't going to harp on it; if she showed sincerity, he could switch pillows, savor the view, and still watch the sea from the lookout.
Seeing he didn't object, Robin quietly exhaled. Truth be told, she'd feared rejection. Even if a little indulgence now didn't equal an invitation to join, it was still a good start. If Arton had bristled and pushed her away outright, her hopes of boarding his crew would have dimmed.
Robin looked to Kaya, lips parting soundlessly: Thank you.
She'd been outside long enough to overhear Kaya pleading her case. For that, she was truly grateful. Kaya—ninja arts inherited from Tsunade—read the lip-speech with ease. She smiled and slid her own diary copy toward Robin.
A moment later, Robin's copy pinged: "Friend Request." She accepted without hesitation.
[Kaya: Sorry, Miss Robin. I'd love a quiet moment alone with Arton, but until you're officially part of the crew, I have to stay here to keep him from blurting out our next destination.]
[Robin: Please don't apologize. You're right—and thank you for speaking up for me earlier. If I can join the Flameblade Pirates, I swear I won't betray you.]
[Kaya: Mm. I believe you.]
...
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