After completely neglecting to focus on my Observation Haki training, we found ourselves preoccupied with discovering the true nature of my Devil Fruit abilities. This diversion not only left me sidetracked from honing my haki, but it also had unintended consequences—namely, Shanks ending up taking numerous naps throughout the day. His sporadic rests, while peaceful, were a stark reminder of my questionable progress, as I realized I had lost valuable time that could have been spent researching my abilities.
As I immersed myself deeper into the enigmatic world of my devil fruit, I began to comprehend the bewildering range of abilities I possessed. One intriguing aspect was my capacity to command another being to sleep; however, I quickly discovered that specific commands yielded unpredictable results. Simple directives, such as "run in a circle," fell flat, just as those that required immediate action did. Yet, commands such as "stop," "sleep," and "down" proved remarkably effective. The command to "stop" would cause the subject to freeze in place, as if time had momentarily paused for them, while "down" rendered them unable to rise.
I also noticed a curious correlation between my level of laziness and the strength of my abilities—the more lethargic I felt, the more potent my powers became. It was almost as if my indifference fueled the effectiveness of my commands. One particularly striking moment occurred when I touched Shanks's arm; it was as if I were a leech siphoning his energy. Just that brief contact drained his vitality, like a vampire drawing blood, and I could feel the warm comfort of his essence flow into me, soothing my spirit towards calm, mellow indifference, completely wiping away any emotional turbulence and towards serenity. This bizarre exchange left me in awe of the devil fruit's capabilities.
"Well, it would explain why you're a lazy bug; it's a rather fitting devil fruit ability." Shanks laughed, "This is probably the first time I've had to act as an experimental subject to test out your abilities."
I couldn't help but pout at the accusation that I was treating him like a lab rat. While there was a kernel of truth in that statement—after all, he was indeed the one serving as the subject for my experimentation with my Devil Fruit powers—I knew there was more to my abilities than just siphoning energy from him.
In addition to commanding and absorbing energy, I had discovered that I possessed the power to manipulate non-living objects around me. For instance, during meals, I could make the utensils leap into the air and dance across the table at my command. The breadth of my powers seemed limitless, as there were no restrictions on the types of commands I could issue to inanimate objects.
However, my creative prowess did have its constraints. I realized that while I could reshape any object into various forms, I couldn't increase its size. The only way to diminish an object was to break it down into smaller pieces.
Even after our brief 'haki tutoring session'—which Shanks casually mentioned we would resume later—I found myself practically yearning to explore the full potential of my devil fruit powers. I was motivated by the thought of studying my devil fruit, but as I sat down on the bed, an overwhelming lethargy washed over me. The day's events had taken a toll, and despite my desire to experiment, the comfort of the bed was too inviting to resist.
Before I knew it, I had pulled the covers up to my chin, surrendering to the heaviness in my eyelids. The dim light of the room faded into darkness, and I slipped into a peaceful slumber, unaware of the world outside. I couldn't shake the thought that I would probably miss dinner, which we were supposed to eat at the tavern with the rest of the crew, Makino, and Luffy, and it troubled me a bit. After all, I was supposed to grab my going-outside blanket and meet the rest at the tavern, but exhaustion had claimed me.
...
"Kouya, Kouya, Kouya, wake up!" Hougo urged, gently shaking my shoulder in an attempt to rouse me from the depths of slumber. My mind swirled in confusion as the warmth of my bed clung to me, and the soft haze of sleep made it challenging to process his words.
"Shanks said you were supposed to meet us for dinner," he continued, his tone a mix of concern and frustration. "It's been an hour since you were supposed to arrive." He let out a deep sigh, a sound that echoed the weight of his worry. "We were really starting to worry that something might have happened to you."
I blinked away the last remnants of sleep, my eyelids heavy as I adjusted to the dim light of my room. The sun had completely surrendered to the horizon, casting a gentle darkness that enveloped the space around me. Just an hour ago, the sky had still held onto traces of daylight, but now the stars began to twinkle through my window, tiny pinpricks of light in the deepening blue.
As I sat up, I took a moment to fully absorb my surroundings, finally realizing that I had fallen asleep in the comforting familiarity of my own bed. It was a rare sensation, one that had eluded me for months. For the first time in a long while, I felt the soothing embrace of safety as I reflected on the peaceful quiet that filled the room.
"Sorry," I muttered to Hougo, my voice muffled by the haze, as I slowly peeled myself away from the warm embrace of the bed. The atmosphere around me was thick with a sense of lazy reluctance, the kind that often envelops you after a good nap cut short. Hougo stood by, cradling my favorite going-out blanket in his arms, its fabric a delicate weave that was far lighter than the heavy comforter I usually dragged around the ship. It was the perfect blend of comfort and portability, unlike my favorite lounge around the ship comforter, which was somewhat cumbersome when I ventured outside.
As I rose, I took a moment to reflect on my peculiarities—one of which was a peculiar aversion to shoes and sandals. The sensation of them enclosing my feet felt stifling, so I opted to walk around barefoot, enjoying the freedom from restrictive footwear. It was a curious habit, with no recollection of how it had begun. I never really realized that even though I was barefoot, my feet never truly made contact with the ground, a phenomenon that danced on the edge of the surreal. It was rather funny how my quirks seemed entwined with the extraordinary abilities I now possessed.
I collected my going-out blanket from Hougo, wrapping it snugly around myself like a comforting shield against the world outside. As I settled into its familiar embrace, a sudden thought struck me: Doesn't this mean I could float effortlessly without the need to walk? The realization washed over me like a warm wave, and I decided to embrace the idea of simply levitating. At the same time, everyone else had to actually walk, free from the constraints of shuffling my feet along the ground.
"HUUUH!" Hougo's eyes widened in disbelief as he noticed my effortless floating. "When could you do that?"
His astonishment was contagious, and I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction, unable to stifle the joy bubbling inside me. I wanted to explain this newfound revelation more thoroughly, to clarify that it was not something new at all but rather a trick I had always possessed—one I hadn't fully acknowledged until now. However, it probably wasn't something I could fully explain, considering how terrible I was at talking. Instead, I replied, "Food," leaving the mystery hanging in the air, and we both were satisfied with the whimsical exchange between us.