"Anyway, leave it to me. I have experience."
Zoro skillfully dodged Kuina's clawing hands, wiped his nose with force, and strutted into the kitchen with his head held high.
In no time, he proudly brought out a cup of hot water and handed it to Nami. "Here, take this. After drinking this, you'll feel better right away."
Nami looked up in astonishment at this Mosshead idiot.
"...Thank you," Nami said softly, "but I don't think a cup of hot water will do much..."
"Oh!!!"
Zoro slapped his forehead, as if suddenly enlightened, and clattered back into the kitchen. This time, he came out carrying six cups of hot water.
"I didn't think it through. You're Xiano's sister, after all. Your constitution isn't something ordinary people can compare to. It'll take this much hot water to work."
Thud!
Nami couldn't take it anymore and punched him hard on the head. "It's not about the quantity! Are you an idiot? You must be an idiot!!!"
"Pfft, hahaha!!!"
Sanji burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "There really are idiots like you who think hot water works. You'd be better off learning some cooking from me and making a bowl of creamy mushroom soup. Of course, the most effective thing would be to just take some painkillers!"
"Stop laughing, you too!" Nami also punched him on the head. "What's with you suddenly kneeling in front of me? Acting like some creepy old man trying to be nice, it's terrifying!!"
"Wuwuwu, so scary..."
The two bruised boys huddled in the corner, trembling and not daring to speak again.
"Anyway."
Nami turned to Xiano, her expression shifting back to that pitiful, delicate look. "You see, brother~! I've been dealing with this for two years now. I'm really not a kid anymore. I'm a fully mature lady now, so just take me with you~!"
Thud!
She was met with a punch from Xiano, and three bumps immediately swelled on her head, steam rising from them.
"You're getting more and more mischievous. If I don't discipline you for three days, you'll start tearing the roof off."
Xiano expressionlessly clapped his hands. "I told you to go upstairs and comfort Bellemere, but you wanted to follow me instead. Do you want her to cry alone until dark?"
"I'm not crying!"
An exasperated voice came from the stairs. "I told you to hurry up and leave, why are you still lingering at home?"
"Then why don't you close the door and stop eavesdropping!" Xiano shouted back.
Silence immediately followed.
After dinner, everything had been fine, but suddenly Bellemere had lashed out at him.
She said it was the last time they'd eat at home together, and with so many people, the dishes had piled up like a mountain. Yet, he hadn't even thought to help wash them. What a jerk.
Then she stormed upstairs, telling him to finish washing the dishes and get out before she came back down. She didn't want to see her ungrateful son again.
Was she afraid she'd cry uncontrollably?
Or was she afraid that her adopted son would see her like that and find it hard to leave?
What a clumsy act.
Xiano shook his head and picked up the bag beside the sofa. It was filled with his winter clothes—hand-knitted socks, scarves, woolen hats… and all sorts of snacks he and Nojiko loved.
It was heavy and bulky. If thrown into the sea, it would probably sink straight to the bottom. What was this? It was just like Bellemere's love—unable to bear even a single tear.
"It's really time to leave now."
Xiano shouted with all his might once more, causing the roof tiles to buzz and rattle, afraid that a certain prideful woman might really close the door and not hear him—
"Remember to hide yourself well when you peek at my back through the window later, don't let Nojiko turn around and see you crying there. I won't look back anyway!"
How excessive, using me as a shield again.
Nojiko angrily pinched the flesh at his waist, though it was unclear whether it was too tough to pinch or if she just hurt herself in the process. As she turned her head, her eyes involuntarily reddened.
The group picked up their already packed belongings and finally stepped out the door.
Nami took advantage of the moment the door opened to secretly slip something into Xiano's bag, then hid to the side, sticking out her tongue and making a face at Xiano's retreating back.
She glanced back at the stairs, hesitated for a moment, but still picked up a tissue from the coffee table and went upstairs.
Meanwhile, Koshiro, Zoro, and Sanji, who had come to see them off, silently stood at the door, watching the figures gradually fade into the distance.
"Old man!!!"
Sanji suddenly stepped forward, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting, "You better find the All Blue! I hate trouble, and I'm counting on you so I can just sail out and reap the benefits when I come of age!!!"
The old man in the distance didn't pause his steps at all, merely raising his right hand high and flipping the middle finger.
"You too, Kuina!!!"
Zoro, who had been holding back, finally let loose, taking several steps forward and blocking Sanji as he roared even louder:
"Hurry up! Hurry up and become the world's greatest Master Swordsman!! That way, when I set sail, I'll only have to defeat you. I hate trouble too, and I don't want to go around challenging every other Swordsman one by one!!!"
Kuina didn't look back either, raising her right hand as if to flip the bird, but for some reason, it ended up forming an "OK" gesture.
"Do I have to start everything?" Sanji stomped on Zoro's foot in frustration, and Zoro retaliated by stomping back.
Koshiro, meanwhile, leaned quietly against the door.
He didn't say a word, maintaining his usual smiling demeanor, but his gaze never left Kuina's figure until it gradually blurred…
Blurred?
But I held back my tears!
Koshiro instinctively pushed at the bridge of his nose, only to realize something was wrong. Huh, where are my glasses?
...
On the shaded path lined with coconut trees.
The group of four, laden with bags, headed toward the newly built dock to the northwest.
The dock had been constructed to accommodate large cargo ships.
The quality of Cocoyasi Village's oranges was truly exceptional, and over the years, the processing business had flourished, with merchant ships arriving in droves for trade, bringing prosperity to the entire village.
As they walked along the road.
The path was well-paved, and many new, spacious houses had sprung up. The changing scenery along the way was the best testament to the village's transformation.
But something was strange.
The place was eerily empty, with almost no one in sight.
"Man-Scar and the villagers are all waiting at the old dock to see us off. They thought we'd be leaving on my family's small boat."
Kuina smiled and said, "But we didn't expect that the large cargo ship that docked at the new pier this afternoon would actually be the one we're going to board."
"It's Old Jarte's new ship."
Xiano grinned, "He's saved up quite a bit of money over the years. Plus, after his previous ship was damaged by a Sea King and left with hidden issues, he decided to upgrade. When he heard I was setting sail, he offered to see me off."
"So that's how it is."
A few years ago at the Isshin Dojo, Kuina had pestered Xiano to tell her about his first impromptu adventure at sea, so she still remembered the name Old Jarte. Her face lit up with realization.
Soon, the group arrived at the new pier.
As expected, the diversion tactic had worked, and the place was empty except for Old Jarte and a few sailors, who stood on the dock with pipes in their mouths, smiling warmly.
"Long time no see, Lord Xiano!"
Behind him loomed a massive vessel, over a hundred meters long, significantly larger than the flagship of the Krieg Pirates that Nojiko had seen at the old pier.
Was this because of the trauma from nearly being wrecked by the King of the Near Sea years ago, leading to an obsession with firepower?
Xiano laughed heartily as he walked forward, while Kuina, standing beside him, was also taken aback by the sheer size of the merchant ship up close. She couldn't help but spread her arms and exclaim:
"Wow, it's so big…"
...
"Wow, it's so small…"
Somewhere on an island in the Grand Line, a grocery store clerk huffed and puffed as he carried food and fresh water to the shore. When he saw the coffin-shaped boat in front of him, his eyes widened in disbelief. "Sir, are you really planning to sail to the East Blue in this? Aren't you afraid it'll capsize?"
"Don't ask unnecessary questions. Just help me load the things I bought onto it."
The man carrying a broad black sword glanced at him, his tone cold.
(End of Chapter)