Forgotten Buggy

About half a quarter-hour after the Marines left, the Captain finally returned, stepping back aboard using an ability similar to the Marines' Geppo.

"How did it go?" As the Captain landed on the ship, Rayleigh tossed him a bottle of liquor.

"He seemed to have gotten stronger again." He took a huge gulp, wiped the liquor running from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, then caught his breath before speaking.

"Hahaha, that's normal. Garp sails the seas every day just to chase you down, so he's bound to run into plenty of fights. It'd be strange if he didn't get stronger. Besides, haven't you gotten much stronger too?"

"Of course. If I didn't work hard, he might really catch me one of these days."

To celebrate the Captain's successful return, the entire Pirate Group threw another grand feast.

"Shanks, didn't we forget something?" While everyone was having a great time, Shirakawa suddenly felt as though he had forgotten something and turned to Shanks.

"What? No, I don't think so." Shanks was drunk too, and answered Shirakawa without a second thought.

"Hmm, then I guess we didn't."

And just like that, poor Buggy was forgotten in a corner by the two of them.

"Hahaha, Buggy, we're really sorry. We forgot about you."

Before they knew it, it was noon the next day. Buggy stood before Shanks and Shirakawa with an enraged expression, while Shanks spoke awkwardly.

"Forgot? You not only knocked me out, you actually forgot about me too! Are you even human?!"

Faced with Buggy's accusations, Shirakawa and Shanks could only laugh sheepishly, because this really was their fault.

As for how Buggy had been found, that had to start with that morning.

That morning, Buggy slowly woke up. He tried to stretch, only to find that he couldn't move, and his mouth was taped shut. Then he remembered what had happened the day before.

So Buggy crawled onto the deck inch by inch like a caterpillar, until someone finally noticed him.

"Buggy, what are you doing? Did you come up with another new game?" Just as Buggy was exhausted beyond measure, an incredibly gentle voice sounded beside his ear. At that moment, it was like the voice of an angel.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph. (Hurry up and untie me.)" Buggy hurriedly made a sound, then gestured with his eyes toward the rope binding his arms behind his back.

"What are you trying to say? Do you want everyone to look at you? Better not. Your game is pretty creative, but isn't it a little too embarrassing?"

The pirate shook his head and refused Buggy's "request."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph. (What are you talking about? Stop talking nonsense and untie me already.)"

"Fine, since you're sincerely begging me, I'll help you out."

"Mmph, mmph." Buggy nodded vigorously, thinking, Finally, he understands.

"Wait here. I'll go get some people for you. Not many people are awake yet, but there'll be enough to serve as your audience."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph. (What audience? Hey, wait! Don't go!)"

As he watched the man's retreating back, Buggy's heart sank bit by bit.

Just then, Buggy, lying facedown on the deck, suddenly heard a flurry of noisy footsteps. The hope that had just gone out in his heart flared back to life.

"Look, Buggy's over there. I guess he wants to perform how to save himself for us."

It was the same pirate from before, speaking to the companions he had brought over, who were still somewhat confused.

"Oh, is that so? Buggy, hurry up and perform."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph. (Perform my ass.)"

After making that sound, Buggy fainted from sheer fury.

"Huh, Buggy, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Oh no, he passed out."

That was how Buggy was finally rescued. It could be said that a truly dramatic scene had unfolded that morning.

Meanwhile, the culprits behind that dramatic scene had not even sobered up yet.

After being scolded, making assurances, and offering promises, Buggy finally calmed down.

"You two went a little too far this time."

"Sorry, Captain. We know we were wrong."

The one who had just scolded them was Roger. He could allow his crewmates to fool around on his ship, but there had to be limits. If Buggy had not been so tough, they might have angered him to death.

"Don't worry, Captain. We won't ever do it again."

Shanks and Shirakawa promised in unison.

"Although the verbal reprimand is over, the circumstances were rather serious this time. The two of you will clean for a month as punishment. Any objections?"

"Reporting to the Captain, no objections."

"Good."

"Whew, we finally escaped disaster." After Roger left, the two of them sighed in relief at the same time.

"Shirakawa, this is all your fault. If you hadn't forgotten, we wouldn't have been punished like this."

At that moment, Shanks began complaining to Shirakawa again.

"Blame me? Why blame me? If you hadn't come up with this idea, we wouldn't have done it. Besides, you didn't remember either."

"I don't care, I don't want to hear it. It's your fault. All your fault."

"Are you really Shanks?"

Seeing Shanks rolling around and throwing a tantrum, Shirakawa froze for a moment. He crouched down and pinched Shanks's cheek.

Although Shanks was usually childish too, that was simply his easygoing nature. But just now, he had looked exactly like a little kid.

"Don't touch me. I'm only thirteen this year, you know. If you bully me, I'll tell Captain." Shanks slapped Shirakawa's hand away.

"Thirteen? You're only thirteen this year?" Shirakawa said in surprise.

"Of course. Come to think of it, we don't even know how old you are."

"I'm thirteen too," Shirakawa said without batting an eye. However, his gaze drifted aside, and he did not dare look Shanks in the eye.

"Heh. At least come up with a believable lie."

Shirakawa was more than a head taller than Shanks. How could he possibly still be thirteen?

Shirakawa was simply too embarrassed to reveal his real age. He was so much older than Shanks, yet his strength was not that much greater.

And so, Shanks and Shirakawa cleaned the ship for an entire month. Honestly, it was even more exhausting than Shirakawa's training.

The ship looked as though it had never been cleaned before. Other than the exposed areas that seawater could reach, thick dust lay almost everywhere except the ground where they slept.

On top of that, Buggy mocked them from time to time. Buggy's debt to Shirakawa was no longer just one score; Shirakawa would make him repay it slowly someday.

"Say, Shanks, who used to clean the ship? I really want to file a complaint against them."

"Before? No one, I guess."

"That explains it."