"Anyway, leave it to me. I've got experience."
Zoro deftly dodged Kuina's clawing hand, wiped his nose with exaggerated pride, and strutted into the kitchen.
A short while later, he came out, smug as ever, carrying a cup of hot water and held it out to Nami.
"Here, drink this. Once you finish it, you'll feel better immediately."
Nami blinked up at the green-haired idiot in surprise.
"…Thanks," she said quietly. "But I don't think a cup of hot water will do much…"
"Oh!!"
Zoro smacked his forehead as if he had just achieved enlightenment, dashed back into the kitchen, and soon came out with six cups of hot water this time.
"My bad, I didn't think this through. You're Shanu's little sister, your constitution must be totally different from normal people's. You'll probably need this much hot water to make it work."
Bonk!
Nami couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her fist on his head.
"It's not about the quantity! Are you stupid or what?! You must be stupid!!"
"Pfft, hahaha!!"
Sanji burst out laughing, holding his stomach. "There are actually idiots who think hot water fixes everything! You'd be better off learning some cooking from me, I'd make a nice creamy mushroom soup instead. Though honestly, the best cure is just taking painkillers!"
"Quit laughing, and you too!" Nami turned and whacked him on the head as well. "What's with you suddenly kneeling in front of me like some creepy uncle? You scared the hell out of me!"
"Ugh… so scary…"
The two boys, both with swollen bumps on their heads, crouched in a corner, trembling and silent.
"Anyway…"
Nami turned toward Shanu, instantly switching back to her soft, pitiful act.
"You saw it yourself, big bro~! I've been getting that thing since two years ago, so I'm definitely not a little kid anymore! I'm a fully mature lady now, so take me with you~!"
Bonk!
What greeted her was Shanu's fist. Three bumps rose on her head at once, puffing white smoke.
"You're getting cheekier by the day. Go three days without a beating and you're climbing on the roof already."
Expressionless, Shanu clapped his hands clean.
"I told you to go upstairs and keep Bellemere company, and you're trying to sneak off too? You want her to sit alone crying until dark?"
"I'm not crying!"
A furious voice came from upstairs.
"If you're done packing, then hurry up and get lost already!"
"Then stop eavesdropping and close the door!" Shanu shouted back.
Silence fell upstairs.
They'd all just finished dinner when Bellemere suddenly lost her temper.
Said it was the last meal together, that everyone had stuffed their faces and left a mountain of dishes behind without lifting a finger to help, called him an ungrateful brat, then stormed upstairs.
Told him to wash the dishes and leave right after, said she didn't want to see his "unfilial face" again before she came back down.
Was she afraid she wouldn't stop crying if she stayed longer?
Or afraid her son would see her crying and hesitate to leave?
What a lousy act.
Shanu shook his head and grabbed the heavy satchel by the couch packed full of winter clothes, hand-knit socks, scarves, hats, and plenty of the snacks and treats he and Nojiko liked.
It was so heavy that if it fell into the ocean, it'd probably sink straight to the bottom, just like Bellemere's motherly love: so heavy you can't cry a single tear.
"This time, I'm really going!"
Shanu shouted with all his might, loud enough to make the roof tiles hum, just in case a certain prideful woman upstairs pretending not to listen might not hear him.
"When you're sneaking a peek through the window later, make sure to hide yourself! Don't let Nojiko see you crying if she turns around! And for the record, I won't turn around!"
How rude — using me as a shield again!
Nojiko huffed angrily and pinched at his waist, only to realize his muscles were too hard to grab, and she ended up hurting her own fingers. Her eyes went red in spite of herself.
The group picked up their already-packed luggage and finally stepped out the door.
Nami took advantage of the open door to quietly slip something into Shanu's bag, then darted aside and stuck her tongue out playfully at his departing back.
Then she turned toward the stairs, hesitated, and finally picked up a box of tissues from the table and went up.
Meanwhile, Koshiro, Zoro, and Sanji stood silently by the door, watching their figures grow smaller in the distance.
"Old geezer!!!"
Sanji suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands to his mouth, and yelled,
"You better find the All Blue, you hear me?! I'm too lazy to look for it myself, I'm counting on you to do all the work before I set sail!!"
The old man didn't stop walking, he just raised his right hand and gave Sanji the middle finger.
"And you too, Kuina!!!"
Zoro had been holding it in, but now he couldn't anymore. He stomped past Sanji and roared even louder:
"You'd better become the world's greatest swordsman, got it?! That way, when I go out to sea, all I'll need to do is beat you! I hate hassle too much to challenge anyone else!!"
Kuina didn't turn around either. She lifted her right hand — it looked like she meant to flip him off as well, but halfway through, it turned into an "OK" sign instead.
"You started it," Sanji grumbled, stomping on Zoro's foot. Zoro stomped back immediately.
Koshiro just leaned quietly against the doorway.
He didn't say a word, kept smiling faintly, his eyes never leaving Kuina's figure until it blurred in the distance.
Blurred?
I'm not crying though…
Koshiro instinctively pushed up his glasses — only to realize something was off.
Huh? Where are my glasses?
Under the shade of coconut trees, along the quiet coastal road.
Four figures, burdened with luggage, headed toward the new harbor to the northwest.
The dock had been built to accommodate larger cargo ships.
Cocoyashi Village's oranges were so high-quality that their trade had flourished over the years, drawing merchant ships nonstop and bringing prosperity to the whole island.
As they walked, the well-paved roads and new, spacious houses stood as proof of that prosperity.
But there was one odd thing, the streets were completely empty. Not a soul in sight.
"Genzo and the villagers are all waiting at the old dock to send us off," Kuina said with a smile. "They still think we're leaving on that little boat from your place."
"Our little decoy worked, then."
Shanu grinned. "This ship we're actually taking, it's old Gatt's new one. He's done well for himself these past years, and after that sea king crash nearly broke his last ship, he decided to upgrade. When he heard I was setting sail again, he insisted on seeing me off himself."
"I see…"
Kuina remembered hearing about that first reckless voyage years ago when Shanu told the story back at Isshin Dojo. The name "Gatt" clicked, and she smiled in understanding.
Before long, they reached the new harbor.
Sure enough, it was empty, their feint had worked perfectly. Only old Gatt and a few sailors were there, waiting with easy grins and smoking pipes on the pier.
"Long time no see, Lord Shanu!"
Behind him loomed a massive ship, over a hundred meters long, far larger than Krieg's flagship that Nojiko had seen earlier at the old port.
Guess he developed a trauma about firepower after that sea king incident.
Shanu laughed heartily and strode forward, while beside him, Kuina stared up at the enormous vessel, spreading her arms in awe.
"Wow… so big…"
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Grand Line
A shop clerk was panting as he carried crates of supplies and fresh water to the shore. When he saw the tiny coffin-shaped boat before him, his eyes went wide.
"Sir, are you really planning to sail to the East Blue in this? Aren't you afraid it'll capsize?"
"Don't ask questions you don't need to ask. Just load the supplies."
The man carrying the great black sword on his back shot him a cold glance.