Morning sunlight streamed into the forest. With Sky Island so high above the ground, the light was fierce and startlingly clear.
Rubick woke with a frown. He had drunk too much the night before.
Still groggy, he felt as though his head were resting against a pillow. He opened his eyes and discovered he had been sleeping in Robin's arms.
"Awake, little boy?"
Robin's teasing voice sounded softly beside Rubick's ear, and his face darkened. Right now, he looked like a little brother who had fallen asleep in his big sister's arms.
Ignoring his expression, Robin went on. "To be honest, Nami told me you sleep like a baby. Last night was the first time I saw it for myself."
Rubick scrambled to his feet. Luckily, none of the others had woken up, so he had escaped total humiliation.
Rubick cleared his throat. "Well, actually, I slept with you last night."
"Hehe. I won't tell anyone I spent the night holding you like a little child."
"Then you'd better never sleep holding a child again!"
Rubick thought of a certain brat who had it coming and swore that the next time he saw him, he would give him a smack that left him with a shadow over his heart too vast to measure.
The Cloud Wolves who had joined last night's party still slept in scattered groups. Rubick returned to the cabin, took out his toothbrush, and began brushing his teeth.
The noise Rubick made woke the others one by one. Soon the Cloud Wolves left too, and the mess on the ground was given a quick cleanup.
Still half asleep, Usopp suddenly opened his eyes wide. "Everyone, have you noticed? The Going Merry is almost fixed!"
"It really does look that way..."
The others were surprised too, exchanging bewildered