Wounds You Cannot See
The clouds parted by mid-morning.
The ocean, painted in hues of lavender and gold, shimmered below the drifting Hyperion. The ship remained still, not because of broken systems — but because no one gave the order to move.
It was the first true silence they'd had in days.
And silence, for once, was welcome.
[Kuina – On the Bow]
She sat alone, barefoot, blade beside her like a sleeping companion.
Not meditating. Not training. Just… watching the water.
A light wind blew across her face. Her bangs fluttered.
She exhaled, deep and long.
When Vegito approached, she didn't turn.
"Do you remember what you said before we fought that warlord in the Calm Belt?" she asked.
He folded his arms. "I say a lot of things. Remind me."
"That we'd come out stronger. Or we wouldn't come out at all."
She nodded to herself. "We came out. But… not untouched."
Her knuckles were bandaged. Her pride? Not so much.
"Are we still training tomorrow?" she asked.
He smirked. "We never stopped."
Kuina finally smiled — faint, but real.
[Robin – Library Chamber]
Robin was reorganizing scrolls and old books that had scattered during the impact.
Each placement was careful, almost meditative.
Lyra entered quietly. No words at first. Just presence.
Then, Robin spoke.
"I watched him fight a perfect imitation of himself," she murmured.
Lyra moved closer. "And?"
"It wasn't his power that won.""It was his soul."
She looked down at her hands, bruised from overuse of her Devil Fruit powers.
"I wonder if that's what they'll never understand… the World Government. That no clone can match conviction."
She paused.
"Or love."
Lyra's lips curled slightly. "Do you think he notices?"
Robin looked up. "That we all love him? Yes."
[Nojiko & Nami – In the Medical Bay]
Nami sat on the cot, ankles crossed, braid undone.
Nojiko was bandaging her ankle.
"Twisted it during the thunder trap?" Nojiko asked.
Nami shrugged. "Worth it. Did you see their faces?"
They both laughed, then quieted.
"…I thought I might die," Nami admitted.
"I know," Nojiko replied. "Me too."
They leaned into each other.
Then, Nami whispered, "Do you think we're just pieces in his story?"
Nojiko gave her a look. "No. I think he's a part of ours now. And maybe… we're the only thing keeping him human."
That stayed between them.
[Lyra – Stargazer Deck, Alone]
Lyra stood beneath the stars, exhausted but alive.
Her hands still ached from the rune burns, but her spirit felt alight. For the first time since her past life ended, she didn't feel replaceable.
She saw Vegito walking the upper deck alone.
She didn't call out to him.
She simply whispered to the sky:"Let me be someone you remember… even if you forget the rest."
[Vegito – Captain's Quarters]
He sat on the edge of his bed, tail loosely curled across the floor.
No victory roar. No feast.
Just the hum of the ship, and the weight of lives.
He glanced at the system window still floating in the air:
System Notification
✅ Mission Success: Repel CP-0 Assault🔥 Morale: Crew Loyalty +500🌊 World Shock: Rebellion Momentum Doubled⚠️ New Passive Unlocked: Stormfather's Presence — Enemies hesitate in open confrontation.
Then he looked at the floor, breathing deeply.
"I'm not invincible," he muttered.
Then he laughed. "But I've got a crew that makes me feel damn close."
A knock at the door.
It was Robin, holding a bottle of old whiskey from their last port raid.
She raised it with a small smile. "Nightcap, Captain?"
He opened the door wider.
"You're always welcome, Robin."