Aria shrugged, brushing dust from her sleeve. "He had it coming. Some people can't handle their morning drinks."
"But you were amazing!" Kaya fell into step beside her, matching her pace through the village street. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
'Here we go.' Aria prepared her usual deflection. "Here and there."
She glanced at Kaya's eager expression and softened slightly.
"Started with basic self-defense classes back home."
"Home?" Kaya's head tilted with curiosity. "Where is that? You're clearly not from around here."
"Very far away." Aria gestured vaguely at her outfit. "Different customs, different clothes."
"I noticed!" Kaya's smile brightened as she examined the band logo on Aria's shirt. "Those symbols—I've never seen writing like that before. What does it mean?"
Aria's fingers automatically touched the faded design. "It's the name of a... musical group. They're pretty popular where I'm from."
"How fascinating!" Kaya clasped her hands together. "You must tell me more about your homeland. We don't get many travelers here in Syrup Village."
"Not much to tell. Just another small port town, really."
"But you learned to fight there? Was everyone as strong as you?"
Aria laughed, the sound carrying genuine amusement. "Hardly. I just had good teachers."
She kicked a small stone off the cobblestone path.
"Though I doubt they ever expected me to use their lessons on drunk troublemakers in seaside villages."
"Well, I'm glad you did."
They walked in comfortable silence for a moment before Aria looked down at her torn and dirt-stained clothes. Her t-shirt had seen better days even before the morning's confrontation. The fabric stretched awkwardly where it had been grabbed during the fight.
"Hey." She stopped to face Kaya. "You wouldn't happen to know where I could get some new clothes around here? These aren't exactly holding up well."
Kaya's face lit up like she'd been offered a delightful surprise. "Oh! You absolutely must visit Sasha! She's the most talented tailor in the East Blue."
"A proper tailor?" Aria touched her worn shirt hem uncertainly.
'I was thinking more like a general store with basic necessities.'
"I was thinking more along the lines of a general store..."
"Nonsense!" Kaya stepped closer, her enthusiasm infectious. "Everyone needs at least one well-made outfit. Besides, you helped deal with that awful man. Let me do something nice in return."
They resumed walking down the busy morning street. Market stalls lined both sides with colorful awnings fluttering in the sea breeze. The mingled scents of fresh bread and salt air created an oddly comforting atmosphere.
Vendors called out their wares while customers moved between displays of fish, vegetables, and household goods.
"So." Kaya passed a fishmonger's stall where silver catches gleamed on ice. "Those abilities... are you a pirate? You must be, right?"
Aria chuckled, shaking her head at the direct question. "What, a girl can't throw a few punches without being accused of piracy these days? Talk about jumping to conclusions."
"It's just..." Kaya's fingers played with the hem of her dress, a nervous habit. "The way you moved. It reminded me of someone."
'She's thinking about Luffy and the others,' Aria realized, watching Kaya's expression grow distant with memory.
"Things have changed around here since I recovered." Kaya navigated around a group of children chasing an escaped chicken. "I've been trying to make sure everyone feels safe."
"Recovered?"
'Play it natural. She doesn't know I know her story.'
Kaya nodded, her hand unconsciously moving to her wrist where she would check her own pulse—a developing medical habit. "I was bedridden for years after my parents passed. Thought I might never leave my room again."
She paused to let an elderly man with a cart of bright red apples pass by, then continued with growing brightness in her voice.
"Then certain pirates came along and turned everything upside down. Saved me in more ways than one."
Her smile became genuine and warm.
"Showed us all that sometimes the stories we tell ourselves about heroes and villains aren't quite right."
"The world's rarely black and white." Aria thought of all the moral complexity she knew was coming in this world's future.
"After they left, I decided I wouldn't waste another day in bed." Kaya's posture straightened with quiet pride. "I've been studying medicine since then. The village doctor's been teaching me when he has time."
"That's impressive."
'The transformation from the frail, sheltered girl I remembered reading about is remarkable.'
"Not really." Kaya's modesty showed in her slight blush. "I still have so much to learn. But helping people gives me purpose."
Her voice grew softer.
"Especially on days when I miss hearing Usopp's stories."
'Perfect opening,' Aria thought.
"Speaking of stories, I've heard this village has quite the storyteller."
Kaya's entire expression brightened. "Oh, you mean Usopp! His tales are legendary around here."
She laughed, the sound carrying both fondness and longing.
"Though these days, he's out living his own adventures."
"He joined a pirate crew." She traced absent patterns on a nearby stone wall as they walked. "The Straw Hats. Have you heard of them?"
Aria kept her voice casual despite knowing exactly how famous they would become.
"The name rings a bell. Their captain's got quite the bounty, from what I hear."
"Thirty million berries!" Kaya's eyes widened with the impressive number. "Can you believe it?"
She clasped her hands together, her admiration clear.
"Though Luffy deserves every berry of that bounty. He's incredible."
"You sound like you know them well."
"They stayed here for a while." Kaya's voice took on the quality of someone treasuring precious memories. "Before everything changed. Before Usopp found his dream."
Her tone grew more serious.
"I owe them my life. My butler Klahadore... he was actually a pirate named Kuro. Had been planning to kill me for years to steal my inheritance."
'The pain is still fresh,' Aria observed, watching shadows cross Kaya's face.
"Sometimes I still have nightmares about his face." Kaya admitted quietly. "That moment when the mask fell away and I saw who he really was. Three years of kindness—all fake."
She shook her head sharply, as if physically clearing away the dark memories.
"But that's why I started studying medicine. I won't be helpless again. And I want to help others the way Luffy and his crew helped me."
They turned down a quieter side street where the morning crowd thinned. Well-maintained shops lined both sides, their windows displaying quality goods. The cobblestones here were cleaner, swept free of the market's debris.
Flower boxes perched on windowsills above them added splashes of color to the white-painted walls.
The change in atmosphere was noticeable—from the bustling energy of the market to the refined calm of the merchant district.
"Here we are!" Kaya pointed to a charming storefront where detailed clothing displays filled the windows. Lace curtains framed the presentation, with mannequins wearing everything from practical sailing clothes to elegant evening dresses.
"Sasha's shop. She can make anything, truly. You'll see!"
A cheerful bell announced their entrance.
The shop's interior smelled pleasantly of fresh cotton and pressed fabric. Racks of colorful clothing lined the walls in organized sections, while rolls of fabric in countless colors and textures stood in neat rows like a rainbow library.
Aria reached out to touch a silk scarf, surprised by its smoothness.
"Sasha!" Kaya called toward the back of the shop. "Are you here? I've brought someone who needs your expertise!"
An elderly woman emerged from behind a curtain, settling glasses on her nose as she moved. Her sharp eyes immediately assessed Aria's clothes with professional interest.
"Oh my." She studied the band logo with obvious puzzlement. "That's certainly... unique."
'If only you knew,' Aria thought with amusement.
"Aria needs a complete outfit." Kaya took charge of the situation. "Something practical but stylish."
"And preferably something that won't fall apart if I need to move quickly." Aria remembered how her current clothes had fared during the morning's scuffle.
Sasha walked a slow circle around Aria, her experienced eye taking in posture, build, and movement patterns. "You've got an athlete's build. We can work with that."
She disappeared behind a rack, the sound of hangers sliding and fabric rustling marking her search.
"Tell me, dear, what brings you to our little village?"
"Just passing through. Though I might stay a while if I find work."
"Hmm." Sasha returned with several items draped over her arm. "The docks are always hiring. Good honest work, if you don't mind the heavy lifting."
"I'm not afraid of physical labor."
'Probably more capable of it than most people here realize.'
The tailor spread several pieces on a nearby table with practiced precision. Each item looked both sturdy and elegant—clothing designed by someone who understood that practicality and style weren't mutually exclusive.
"The Marines have been more active lately." Sasha mentioned casually as she held up a sleeveless top to check the sizing. "Best to blend in when possible."
Aria's body tensed automatically. "Marine patrols?"
"Ever since that business with the Going Merry. The whole coast is being watched now."
She handed Aria a carefully selected bundle of clothes.
"Changing room's behind that curtain."
Behind the privacy of the curtain, Aria examined each piece with growing appreciation. The materials were significantly better than her worn t-shirt and jeans—sturdy cotton that felt like it would last, with careful stitching that spoke of real craftsmanship.
The new top was simple white cotton, practical and unremarkable in the best possible way.
'Perfect for not drawing unwanted attention.'
The black pants felt substantial without being heavy, designed to allow full range of movement.
"How's it fitting?" Kaya called from outside the changing area.
"Like it was made for me." Aria pulled on the pants and tested the fit with a few stretches.
"These might help too." Kaya passed a pair of fingerless gloves through the curtain opening. "Most travelers carry some kind of protection nowadays."
The gloves fit perfectly, providing grip and protection without restricting finger movement.
'Smart addition.'
Stepping out from behind the curtain, Aria approached the full-length mirror and barely recognized herself. The transformation was remarkable—she looked like she belonged in this world instead of being a displaced modern person in inappropriate clothing.
The sleeveless crop top fit her athletic frame perfectly, with a high collar that added an element of style. The black vest layered over it looked professional without limiting movement. The black pants emphasized her long legs while clearly allowing for quick action, and the boots with their knee-high straps completed the ensemble with both form and function.
"Now that is how you combine style with practicality."
Aria threw a few experimental punches, testing her range of motion. The clothes moved with her body like they were part of it.
"At least I won't have to worry about these ripping during a fight."
"Not with my stitching. I've clothed many fighters over the years."
Kaya studied Aria's reflection with a thoughtful expression. "You remind me of Usopp."
"How so?"
A hint of melancholy touched Kaya's smile as she continued looking at the mirror. "That look in your eyes—it's the same one he had before leaving. Like you're chasing something bigger than yourself."
"Kaya..." Sasha's voice carried gentle concern.
"No, it's alright." Kaya straightened her shoulders, showing the strength she'd developed since her recovery. "When Usopp left, I learned something important. Some dreams can't be kept within village borders."
She moved to the shop window, gazing out toward the distant harbor where the sea met the sky.
"Some people need to travel further to find their path."
Her voice grew wistful as private memories surfaced. "I still go to the slope sometimes—where he used to shout that pirates were coming. I sit there and imagine all the adventures he must be having."
She turned back to face them, her smile becoming warmer.
"Sometimes I even tell stories to the village children there. Not as good as his, but they seem to enjoy them."
"Maybe you'll run into him out there. You can tell him I'm doing well and keeping his stories alive here in Syrup Village."
"Those tales of his get wilder each time they're told. Last week, I heard the children talking about his battle with a giant goldfish."
Aria smiled as she touched the edge of her new vest.
"This world has more wonders than most people imagine. Usopp's real adventures might be even greater than his made-up stories."
"Really?" Hope lit up Kaya's eyes like stars.
Aria looked through the shop window at the endless horizon. "He'll see gardens of giants, help save a kingdom covered in sand, and challenge powers that shape this world."
She smiled, thinking of the sniper's journey from coward to hero.
"Though knowing him, he might downplay it all when he returns."
"How could you know any of that?"
'Because where I'm from, your world is a story I know by heart.'
"Let's call it a strong feeling. Some tales are written long before they happen."
"You're strange. But I like your faith in him."
Aria checked her reflection one final time.
"He's got a good crew watching his back. And sometimes that makes all the difference."