In front of the villa in Oykot Royal City, autumn sunlight spilled over the gravel path.
Nami stood at the door with a bulging backpack behind her, stuffed with the navigation books and hand-drawn charts she had collected over these past days. She looked up at the silver-haired man leaning against the doorframe, a trace of complexity in her eyes.
"Boer-" Her voice was soft, carrying a barely perceptible hesitation. "I'm all ready."
Boer nodded, his gaze sweeping over her face before settling on the two figures roughhousing in the courtyard.
Ace dragged Luffy over by the back of his collar, hauling him out of the courtyard like a disobedient puppy. Luffy kept his arms folded as he was dragged along, displeasure written all over his face.
"Come on, Luffy!" A vein bulged at Ace's temple. "All you do in the Royal City is eat all day! You don't put any effort into getting stronger!"
Luffy pouted sulkily and argued with conviction:
"What do you mean I haven't gotten stronger? I eat more food every day now!"
"How does that count as getting stronger?"
"Of course it counts! You have to eat more to grow big! And you have to grow big to get stronger!"
Ace took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch him again. He looked up at Boer, his gaze turning serious.
"Boer, I'm ready too."
The moment he finished speaking, Luffy thrust up his hand and shouted:
"I'm not ready!"
Bam!
Ace's fist landed squarely on his head.
Luffy crouched down, clutching his head, and looked up with watery eyes, saying pitifully:
"Fine... I'm ready..."
Carina walked out of the villa holding Nami's hand. She wore a pale blue dress today, her long, silvery-white hair draped over her shoulders. Her furry fox ears stood atop