Chapter 51: 51. A Couple
Dina & Robin have decided to join the Clown pirates temporarily until they reach the safe place that Buggy promised them.
"Captain, who-"-Cricket
"I'll explain it later, we need to leave now before Marine or Cipher Pol agents come."-Buggy
"Hmm, alright."-Cricket
The Clown Pirates leave the island and sail away to the sea. When they get far from the island, Buggy introduces Robin & Dina to everyone except Mantis who cook in the kitchen because it's almost lunch.
"Ooh, so this is Nico Robin, the girl who has a higher bounty than you. Hehe, you should be ashamed Captain, you lose to this little girl."-Cricket
"Hey, at least I have a bounty, unlike you."-Buggy
"T-that's-"-Cricket is at loss for words and slump down, dejected
"But will it be okay for them to join us exploring West Blue? It will be really dangerous."-Jude
"Don't worry, we can protect ourselves at least, as long as the enemy isn't someone like your Captain."-Dina
"You know Captain's strength?"-Jude
"Yes, Robin tried her ability on him before, but he doesn't move even a little. Robin has defeated some rather strong men in the past with that technique, and everyone was affected. Even when some people weren't defeated by that, they'll at least move. He, on the other hand, doesn't even move, so he is very strong."-Dina
"Heh, can you try that technique on me?"-Cricket
"W-why'd you want to try it?"-Robin is still shy
"To see how far the difference of mine & Captain's power."-Cricket
Robin looks at Dina and Dina looks at Buggy, then Buggy looks at Cricket, and Cricket looks at Jude.
"E-eh? Eh? Wh-What?"-Jude is looking around, confused, and making the others laugh
"Sure, let him try."-Buggy
Dina nod to Robin, so Robin uses the same technique on Cricket. Many small hands appear on Cricket's body, then the small hands bend his body back.
"Eh?"-Cricket
Cricket bends to his back like a prawn, and he falls to the floor. He doesn't break his back though and only gets bent.
"OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! This is more painful than I thought."-Cricket
"You're not flexible enough to endure that level of back bending."-Buggy smirk
Robin stops her technique, and Cricket tries to fix his posture. Now he knows that he has a big gap with Buggy in physical strength. He is a lot bigger than Buggy, but Buggy is still stronger than him.
"Damn, Captain, you need to tell me how you train your body to get that strong in your age."-Cricket
"I've told you my training menu, and I've even shown it to you. You're just too lazy to train that much and prefer to drink your booze or flirt with Mantis."-Buggy
"Eh? W-what do you mean flirting with Mantis?"-Cricket get a little flustered
"Don't think that I don't know it! You're often went together with her to the islands that we've visited. Then at night, you two will climb the crow nest and have s-"-Buggy can't finish his words because Cricket cover his mouth
"CAPTAIN, THIS IS SUCH A GOOD DAY ISN'T IT? HAHAHA, YOU ALSO LOOK AWESOME, SO WHY DON'T WE TRAIN TOGETHER LATER? HAHAHA."-Cricket stop Buggy from saying another word
Dina smirk at Cricket, Jude is blushing and covers her face with her hands, while Robin does not understand it. (She is still 8 y.o, folks.)
"Food's ready guys, hurry up and eat it!"-Mantis call from the kitchen
"Oh, the food's ready, let's eat everyone, you must be really hungry now."-Cricket said while pulling Buggy to the kitchen.
Buggy just let himself get dragged to the kitchen to save energy. The others follow them to the kitchen and they all eat their food. There's a little awkwardness before they eat, but it is solved quickly when they taste Mantis' cooking.
After lunch, Buggy tells Cricket to move out of his room, so Dina & Robin can sleep there. Cricket will sleep in an empty storage room, they just need to put the bed, and it will become a bedroom.
"Captain-san, maybe you need to buy a new bed for that room. Something that has more durability and won't make any noise when used."-Dina smile mischievously
"You're right, and we will need some thick cloth to make the room soundproof."-Buggy
Cricket gets really embarrassed and can't say anything. Jude is blushing hard, while Robin just drinks her juice. As for Mantis, she is still clueless and doesn't know what they're talking about.
"What are you guys talking about? Why'd his new room need soundproof?"-Mantis
"Hihihi, it's because there will be lots of noises come from that room, so we need to reduce those."-Dina
"Noises?"-Mantis
"Yes, noises. Although it will mostly be someone else' noises though, the noises of pleasure."-Dina
"Huh?"-Mantis
Mantis still doesn't get it, but just a second later she understands it. She turns her head to Cricket who plop his head on the table, defeated. Then she looks at the other's reaction and her gaze finally falls on Buggy who grins mischievously.
"C-Captain, y-y-you-"-Mantis point at Buggy with shaken hand
"What? It's not my fault, I was just about to take a pee that night, and I saw someone sneaking out from her room and climb the crow nest. It happened numerous times after that, making me need to hold my pee and even use bottles when i'm at my limit. So you should thank me for not disturbing you."-Buggy
Mantis get redder & redder with steam coming out from her head.
"Well, you two are adults, so there's no problem. It's just that you need to mind the place more."-Buggy
Mantis plop on the floor defeated too like Cricket. The others get out of the room and leave Cricket & Mantis there.
Jude runs off to the front deck, she wants to train and clear her mind. Buggy takes Dina & Robin to tour around the ship so they'll know the rooms.
Meanwhile, Cricket & Mantis are sitting face to face, but they don't say anything for a while. Their faces are dead and their eyes are dull.
"Did you know that he know it?"-Mantis said with a dead voice
"No, he just said it some minutes ago."-Cricket
"Sigh, it will be awkward with them now."-Mantis
"..... I think we need to be open with them and tell the truth. Captain must've said it because he's disappointed that we didn't even tell him anything. It's not like we do something wrong, he just wants us to be honest with the crew."-Cricket
"..... Sigh, I think you're right. Let's tell them at dinner."-Mantis
Cricket & Mantis agree, then they stand up and do what they need to do. Mantis wash the kitchenware, while Cricket moves his stuff to the new room. Then at dinner, they finally speak to everyone.
"Well, we'll be honest and announce this to you all."-Cricket
"Cricket & I are dating. We start it after the North Pole exploration. Sorry for not saying anything, especially you, Captain."-Mantis
""*clap clap clap* Congratulation.""-Everyone
"I'm not really bothered by it. I just want you guys to be more open with your relationship, so you'll be more comfortable in your activities."-Buggy
Buggy's reason for making the new couple publicizes their relationship is so that the others can help them if something happens. A relationship isn't a straight way, so there will be some troubles in the future.
If no one knows about it, they won't be able to help the couple. Furthermore, they're in the same crew, so the effect will be more dangerous. And as pirates, a little problem with their feeling can cost them their life.
"Anyway, this is worth a celebration, so LET'S HAVE A PARTY!"-Buggy
""YEAH!""-Everyone
Everyone then has a party for the new couple. This is a good day for every one of them.
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