Night fell. A gentle breeze brushed their faces, carrying the coolness of the sea. The moon hung in the sky, silver light spilling across the water and shimmering on its surface.
Waves lapped softly against the rocks along the shore, making a clear, rhythmic sound—the sea whispering in the night.
A familiar voice sounded outside the living room, instantly drawing everyone's attention. They all turned to look.
Creak~
The door swung open. A blue figure appeared before them, a familiar gentle smile beneath golden hair.
"I'm back, everyone." Lina walked slowly into the living room.
"I heard what happened while I was outside. Nice job, Luffy. You really acted like a captain."
He'd listened outside for quite a while, and it had been hard to hear. But he knew he couldn't interfere in something like this. Luffy had to handle it himself.
Once a rift appeared, there was no avoiding it. If they couldn't face the problem head-on, then even if someone stopped the fight this time, the two of them would only be pretending not to care. Deep down, the hurt would remain.
"Lina!"
Chopper pattered forward on his little legs and flung himself at her, tears in his eyes. "Waaah! You're finally back!"
Thump!
"Ow!"
Lina casually tossed Chopper aside, ready to welcome another lovely figure.
"Why were you gone so long?"
Nami rushed up with red-rimmed eyes and buried her face against his chest. "You have no idea how much happened on the ship while you were away. And Robin... Robin's gone!"
Nami looked up, tears welling in her eyes. Even this strong girl sometimes showed her vulnerable side—especially after a day like this, which had been an absolute disaster.
The Going Merry's fate, Robin's disappearance, Lina's long absence, and the conflict that had erupted between Usopp