Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Sailing smoothly on the undulating waves of the East Blue, a pirate ship with a goat-shaped bow cuts through the waters. On the bow, a boy in a straw hat sits, fidgeting and voicing his boredom in a constant murmur.
Luffy adjusts his straw hat and sits up, patting his stomach. He calls out in the direction of the kitchen, "Sanji! Where's my meat? Isn't it ready yet???"
Sanji appears at the kitchen door, fixing Luffy with a serious gaze. "Mealtime isn't here yet, Luffy. You really ought to think about our food supplies onboard. Even though Bai Ye has stored a lot of provisions in his inner space, we must be ready for any situation where we might not be able to replenish our stocks for months."
His advice is heartfelt, though it might carry more weight if he weren't holding something in his hand.
At that moment, Nami's voice drifts from the other side of the ship. "Sanji? What about my afternoon tea? Isn't it ready yet?"
"Right away, Nami-san~~~"
Hearing her voice, Sanji spins around and rushes to Nami's side. She's luxuriously soaking up the sun on the deck. Carefully, he places a plate of fruit tea and desserts next to her, his eyes turning into hearts.
"As long as it pleases Nami-san, I'm more than happy to prepare it for you anytime."
"Thank you, Sanji~"
"Hahaha, serving Nami-san is my greatest honor."
On the sidelines, Luffy can't help but feel left out. "..."
"Huh?" He's totally bewildered by the scene unfolding before him. Turning to Nami, he asks tentatively, "Nami, can I have some of your oranges?"
"No!!" Nami's refusal is immediate. "If I let you eat them, my entire orange grove would be gone in no time! Sanji, make sure to protect my oranges."
With that, she bats her eyelashes at Sanji, acting sweetly.
"Yes, Nami-san! I swear on my life, the orange grove on this ship will be safe!"
Witnessing this scene that feels straight out of the original story, Bai Ye can't help but burst into laughter. He casts a sympathetic glance at Luffy. He knows Sanji is just putting on a show; the moment Luffy says he's hungry, Sanji is back in the kitchen, whipping up something delicious for him.
Sure enough, it's not long before Sanji is back, presenting Luffy with a plate of barbecued meat. But Luffy devours it in just a few bites, much to Sanji's dismay.
"Savor it, you ingrate! Enjoy the food!" Sanji yells, giving Luffy a swift kick.
In the midst of all this activity, Usopp, deeply engrossed in his studies in his room, and Zoro, engaged in a strenuous workout with a dauntingly heavy barbell in the training room, were summoned by Bai Ye. With everyone gathered together, Bai Ye joined Luffy's side and announced, "Alright, our esteemed captain, the moment we agreed upon has arrived."
In the original storyline, the Straw Hat crew raises their pirate flag after acquiring the Going Merry. Bai Ye, with his own personal motivations in mind, had previously discussed this significant moment with Luffy.
A flashback to their conversation reveals Bai Ye's suggestion: "Let's postpone the official formation of our pirate crew until the timing is just right." He was ready to list all the carefully thought-out reasons to support his proposal. However, to his surprise, Luffy simply tilted his head, pondered for a brief moment, and then agreed with a smile, saying, "I trust you, Bai Ye." Bai Ye felt a surge of emotion at Luffy's unwavering trust.
Returning to the present, Luffy's eyes sparkle with anticipation upon hearing Bai Ye's reminder of their agreement. He has been eagerly awaiting this moment for a long time. Standing tall and clapping his hands together, Luffy declares with excitement, "Alright, everyone, our pirate crew is now officially formed!!"
The rest of the crew was momentarily silent, exchanging glances until Bai Ye, unable to contain himself, facepalmed and asked, "Captain, aren't we forgetting something important here?"
Luffy blinked in genuine confusion, "Huh? Like what?"
Bai Ye sighed internally, "Well, things like deciding on our pirate group's name, designing our flag, and sorting out everyone's roles on the ship!"
In his mind, Bai Ye was resigned, "I should've known better than to expect him to remember all that."
"Yes!" Luffy exclaimed, suddenly enlightened. Without a hint of embarrassment, he continued, "The name of our pirate crew will be the Straw Hat Pirates!"
He removed his cherished straw hat and held it out, explaining with deep emotion, "This hat was a gift from Shanks. It means the world to me, so I want our crew to carry its name."
No one voiced any objections to Luffy's decision. In matters like these, the captain's wishes were paramount. All of them grasped the importance of the hat, particularly once Luffy had recounted his experiences with Shanks. Additionally, Bai Ye had provided valuable insights about Shanks, revealing that he is one of the Four Emperors of the Sea. Bai Ye also informed them of the dangers and possibilities that await in the Grand Line and especially the New World.
Usopp, in particular, was staggered by the revelation that his father was a member of a crew led by one of the Four Emperors of the sea. He had stood there, stunned, for quite some time.
Luffy, now in high spirits, added mysteriously, "And as for our pirate flag, I've already drawn it!" He dashed off to fetch his creation.
Nami exchanged a puzzled look with Usopp, "Can Luffy actually draw a pirate flag?"
Usopp shrugged, a bad premonition in his gut, "I have a feeling we're about to find out."
Moments later, Luffy returned, proudly displaying a flag that was, in short, a visual assault—abstract and crude, it was a masterpiece of chaos.
"Hahaha, that's so you, Luffy," Bai Ye managed to say, his tone somewhere between admiration and disbelief.
Luffy, entirely unperturbed and possibly mistaking Bai Ye's response for praise, beamed and said, "Let's hang it up high for the whole world to see!"
"NOOOO!!" The unanimous shout from the rest of the crew was immediate and emphatic. It seemed there were indeed limits to how much they could let their captain decide.
In the end, it was Usopp's artistic skills that came to the rescue. He took up the task and crafted a flag that truly represented the Straw Hat Pirates, putting to rest the matter of their pirate emblem.
-----
"Alright, there's just one more thing we need to sort out—the specific roles and responsibilities for each crew member," Bai Ye began, but before he could finish his sentence, Luffy eagerly interrupted, exclaiming, "I'm the captain!!"
Bai Ye was momentarily lost for words, thinking to himself, 'Did anyone ever doubt that?' However, he kept his thoughts to himself as the others started to share their roles.
Zoro, with his usual cool demeanor, stated, "I'm the swordsman of the crew, ready to fight whenever necessary."
Nami quickly chimed in, "I'm the navigator, and just to be clear, I'm not a fighter." She emphasized her point, noting that while her physical abilities had improved, she still believed combat was not her forte.
Sanji, with a cigarette in hand, added smoothly, "I'm the chef, but I can also step up to fight if the situation calls for it."
Usopp, not wanting to be left out, proudly declared, "I'm the sniper, and I can also handle the duties of a shipwright." He explained that the Golden Merry meant a lot to him, and he was the one who usually took care of its maintenance and repairs.
Finally, Bai Ye spoke up, "That leaves me." He paused before continuing, "I'm a Daoist priest and a fighter, and I can provide logistical support to the crew."
Luffy, feeling a surge of camaraderie, placed a hand on Bai Ye's shoulder and announced, "And Bai Ye, you're also my deputy captain!"