...
The small boat finally reached the shore, its wooden hull scraping against the sand as it settled. Nami hopped off first, stretching her arms with a satisfied sigh before turning to Lucas with a teasing grin.
"What? You're a grown man—don't tell me you're getting homesick already?"
Lucas blinked, then laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Ah? Hahaha, how could that be?"
'Huh. My hair's gotten pretty long without me noticing.'
But admitting something like homesickness? No way. That was way too embarrassing.
Nami studied him for a second before reaching up and ruffling his hair. A realization struck her—this guy was barely taller than she was. For some reason, that made her soften. She remembered how she'd felt the first time she left Cocoyashi Village.
'Ah, what the hell. He's just a kid, really.'
Before Lucas could react, Nami pulled him into a sudden, warm hug.
Lucas stiffened.
Then he registered the soft pressure against his face.
[Ding! Host's emotional state detected. Mood value +66.]
'It smells… really nice.'
Nami felt him freeze and immediately pushed him back, eyebrows raised. Lucas's face burned crimson.
"Hey, Nami! Is there really a village here? Do they have meat?" Luffy's voice boomed from behind them, his usual single-minded hunger cutting through the moment.
Nami rolled her eyes, pulling out a map. "Yes, there's a village. But can you think about something other than food for once?" She shot Lucas another look, amused. "What, did I remind you of your mom or something?"
Lucas turned away, his blush deepening. "Tch. Like I said, I'm not homesick."
Nami smirked, grabbing his hand. "Sure, sure. Let's go."
Luffy, already vibrating with excitement, took off ahead. "MEAT! FINALLY!"
They hadn't taken more than five steps when Zoro's hand drifted to his swords. His voice was low, alert. "Heads up. Someone's watching us."
Lucas glanced up at the trees.
'Ah. That'd be Usopp.'
He squinted, trying to spot the infamous sniper.
'Wait. Can a human nose really be that long?'
A grin tugged at his lips. Usopp—the "God" of the Straw Hats, the man whose lies had a habit of becoming reality. Lucas couldn't help but feel a thrill.
"Did you say something?" Nami asked, leaning closer.
Lucas shook his head. "Nah. Just thinking. There's four people up there—weak auras, though. No real threat." He pointed toward a dense thicket of leaves.
Zoro gave him a sidelong glance but didn't argue.
"Where? Where?" Luffy craned his neck, spinning in circles.
As if on cue, a volley of small rocks rained down, pelting Luffy's sandals.
"Ow! Hey, there is someone up there!" Luffy yelped, hopping as the pebbles bounced off his feet.
Then, with dramatic flair, pirate flags shot up from the bushes—dozens of them, waving wildly. To an outsider, it might've looked like an entire army lurked above.
Nami and Zoro exchanged glances, unimpressed.
Luffy, however, gasped. "WHOA! SO MANY!"
A figure leaped onto a low branch, striking a pose. A very long nose dominated his face.
"BEHOLD!" he bellowed. "I am the mighty Captain Usopp, terror of the East Blue! My 80 million loyal men tremble at my command!"
The flags shook harder.
"AMAZING!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
Nami facepalmed. Zoro sighed.
Lucas bit back a laugh. 'God Usopp. The man who speaks lies into existence.'
He tilted his head, fascinated. 'How does his nose even work? Is it cartilage? Bone?'
Nami crossed her arms. "You're lying."
Usopp's bravado shattered. "EH?! SHE SAW THROUGH ME?!"
Lucas snorted. "Yeah, 'cause you're terrible at it."
"Eighty million's a stretch," Nami added dryly. "But you've got, what… three people up there?"
As if on cue, three kids yelped and bolted from the bushes, sprinting toward the village.
"W-Wait! Don't abandon me!" Usopp wailed after them.
Nami bent down, picking up one of the discarded marbles. She rolled it between her fingers. "Never heard of a pirate who fights with a slingshot."
Zoro smirked. Lucas chuckled.
Luffy, though, looked crushed. "Aww… so it was all fake?"
But then he perked up, grinning. "Hahaha! You're hilarious!"
Usopp bristled. "D-Don't mock me! My pride is unshakable! They call me Usopp the Proud for a reason!" He whipped out his slingshot, aiming it shakily at Luffy. "See this? My shots are deadlier than bullets!"
Luffy's expression hardened instantly. His voice dropped, eerily calm.
"If you've got a weapon… then we're fighting for our lives."
The air tensed.
Lucas recognized this, Luffy echoing Shanks, testing Usopp's resolve.
Zoro played along, his gaze sharpening. "You're dealing with real pirates now."
Usopp's knees knocked together. Sweat poured down his face.
Thud.
He faceplanted into the dirt.
"I—I can't do it! Real pirates are too scary!"
Luffy and Zoro burst out laughing.
"That was awesome!" Luffy wheezed. "I stole that line from Shanks!"
Usopp's head shot up. "Shanks?! Red-Haired Shanks?!"
Luffy nodded. "Yep! You're Yasopp kid, right?"
Usopp's jaw dropped. He toppled off the branch.
CRASH.
Lucas winced. 'That fall would've killed a normal person. This world's biology is absurd.'
Usopp groaned, pushing himself up. "Yasopp… my dad. But how'd you know?"
Luffy beamed. "Met him as a kid. You look just like him!"
Lucas coughed. 'Aside from the nose, sure.'
"Anyway," he cut in. "How about we grab food in the village? You can tell us more there."
"FOOD?!" Luffy's eyes turned to stars.
"Alcohol," Zoro corrected.
Seeing no malice in them, Usopp relaxed. "Fine, follow me."
As they walked, Lucas couldn't resist. He reached out, poking Usopp's nose.
"Hey! What the—?!"
"Is this real?" Lucas marveled.
Nami giggled. "Aw, is the little girl curious?"
Lucas ignored the jab, tugging Usopp's nose experimentally.
"OW! STOP! WHAT THE HELL?!"
Lucas let go, fascinated. "Huh. It is real. How does that even work?"
Usopp rubbed his nose, grumbling. "What, you've never seen a nose before?"
Luffy cackled. Zoro smirked. Nami shook her head.
And just like that, the crew—plus one loudmouthed liar—headed toward the village, the promise of food (and chaos) pulling them forward.
.....