The morning sun cast a golden glow across the deck of the Thousand Sunny. The crew was still recovering from their wild celebrations the night before, but the mood was light. Luffy sat cross-legged on the figurehead, munching on a piece of meat, while Kikidori leaned against the mast, tossing a coin between his fingers.
Kikidori smirked, glancing at Nami, who was busy charting their course. "You know," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Boa Hancock is gonna kill Nami when she finds out Nami kissed Luffy."
The deck went silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. Even Zoro let out a rare chuckle.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, oblivious to the weight of the comment. "Boa's scary when she's mad!"
Nami froze, her pen hovering over her map. "What did you just say, Kikidori?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm.
"Nothing!" Kikidori said quickly, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Just stating facts!"
Sanji, meanwhile, was fuming, his cigarette practically burning out in his clenched teeth. "LUFFY!" he yelled, pointing dramatically. "How dare you steal Nami-san's heart?! I won't forgive you!"
Luffy tilted his head, confused. "Huh? I didn't steal anything. She just kissed me."
"You're making it worse!" Sanji shouted, spinning furiously in place.
The crew erupted into laughter again as Nami smacked both Kikidori and Sanji on the back of their heads. "Enough, you idiots!" she snapped, her face red with embarrassment.
---
As the day went on, the crew settled into their usual routines. Zoro was training with his swords, Robin was reading in her chair, and Brook was playing a soft melody on his violin. Kikidori, now without a Devil Fruit, was testing out his newfound energy.
He ran laps around the deck, did push-ups, and practiced his sword techniques with Zoro. "You know," he said, panting as he finished a set of squats, "not having a Devil Fruit anymore is actually kinda freeing. No more weird sickness, no more limits in water… I feel like myself again."
Zoro smirked, blocking Kikidori's practice swing with one of his swords. "Don't get cocky. You've still got a long way to go if you want to beat me."
"Yeah, yeah," Kikidori said, grinning. "But at least now I can give you a real challenge without worrying about drowning."
Zoro laughed, a rare sound. "I'll hold you to that."
---
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sanji was furiously cooking while muttering under his breath. "Luffy… kissing Nami… unbelievable… how dare he…"
Chopper watched from the counter, nibbling on a carrot. "Sanji, you're burning the soup."
"WHAT?!" Sanji spun around, grabbing the pot and saving the soup just in time. He let out a frustrated sigh. "This is Luffy's fault!"
Chopper tilted his head. "How? You're the one cooking."
"Don't question me, Chopper!" Sanji said dramatically, falling to his knees.
---
On the deck, Kikidori was leaning on the railing, watching the horizon. He glanced down at his reflection in the water, then at the crew behind him. His goofy grin faded into a thoughtful expression.
"Hey, Luffy," Kikidori called out.
Luffy, who was hanging upside down from the rigging, looked over. "What's up?"
Kikidori hesitated before speaking. "You've already done so much—becoming King of the Pirates, reaching Laugh Tale, finding the One Piece. What's next for you?"
Luffy grinned, flipping down onto the deck. "We break the Red Line, of course! Brook needs to see Laboon, Sanji wants to find the All Blue, and everyone deserves to have their dreams come true. That's what a crew is for!"
Kikidori nodded, a small smile forming. "You're something else, Captain."
"Shishishi! I know!" Luffy laughed, clapping Kikidori on the back. "And you're part of that, too! Don't forget your dream!"
Kikidori chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I am."
---
The crew gathered on the deck as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Luffy stood at the helm, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes.
"Next stop: the Red Line!" he announced, his voice filled with determination.
The crew cheered, their voices echoing across the sea.
As the Thousand Sunny sailed forward, their bonds as a crew grew stronger, their dreams clearer, and their resolve unshakable. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they knew they would face them together.
And somewhere in the distance, Boa Hancock sneezed, a strange sense of doom creeping over her.
End Of Chapter 109