Capítulo 242: Chapter 242: Hair Tied, Heart Knotted
Valencia Town,
A lively celebration was underway!
Enough food to eat to your heart's content, treasured wine from the cellar, even the stingiest person wouldn't think this was 'wasting' at this time. Because to ordinary people, compared to life, everything else seemed insignificant.
Dreams? Freedom? Ambition?
Sorry, these are for the strong. Ordinary people just want a stable life.
The coast was filled with laughter and dancing civilians. Although the city had just been attacked by pirates, fortunately, the pirates planned to use the civilians as bait, and Roman's 211st unit arrived in time, so the casualties weren't too severe.
And thanks to Nami, the "second" mobile Izumi water, a day was enough to lift everyone's spirits and celebrate the return of peace.
"It's such a lively and familiar atmosphere~~"
Looking at the cheerful coast, Nami couldn't help but think of the Straw Hat crew's past experiences: fighting pirates, the smiles on everyone's faces, the lively parties... It didn't seem much different from before. And:
"Ann, aren't you going to have a drink?"
Facing Isuka's rare smile, Nami shook her head with a smile.
"No, I'll stay and watch the ship. You go ahead."
"Alright, then—"
The beautiful Commander turned back to look at Nami from the ship's side.
"Ann, you can't just wait when it comes to men, or you'll end up like me..."
Too late to regret!
"Anyway, good luck."
Isuka made a fist and a "keep going" gesture before jumping off the warship with Geppo, representing the 211st unit to receive thanks from Valencia's mayor and stationed Marines.
Although theoretically, the military is prohibited from drinking, after a great victory saving the entire town, the officers on the ship turned a blind eye to the civilians' offerings of fine wine and applause. Besides:
"Hahaha, don't worry."
Bolkin, in the crowd, took a big gulp of wine and waved his hand boldly.
"I've already called my dad... ahem, called headquarters to send people to guard here. Safety is not a problem."
"Thank you, thank you~~"
"Thank you, sir..."
"Long live the Marines!"
Watching the proud "second-generation" group, Nami rested her chin on her hand.
"Ah, such a lively bunch...?!"
Leaning on the ship's side, wearing the Captain's coat, Nami looked at the little girl and her mother waving at her from the coast and happily waved back.
"Big sister, I'll protect my mom~~"
"Don't say that, thank the Marines for their protection."
Facing the woman bowing with the little girl, Nami chuckled.
"It's what we should do."
...
Creak,
Opening the cabin door, Roman saw Nami in a good mood.
"What, do you like parties that much?"
With a wave of his hand, two white chairs appeared side by side on the deck. Roman sat down and looked at the lively scene in the distance, shaking his head.
"What's so great about this? It's not as good as this—"
With a flip of his hand, Roman produced a page with two symmetrical human figures.
"Swap page, good stuff!"
Roman looked pleased. After learning from Isuka that the pirate captain "Phantom" Klein had a metal hand, Roman figured out his escape method:
He hid one of his hands on another island and used a metal prosthetic. In a crisis, he could "swap" and teleport himself to a distant place.
This method ensured Klein could even escape an Admiral's pursuit! Of course, it required being ruthless to oneself: not everyone could "leave a hand" voluntarily.
But for Roman, this wasn't a problem at all! Not to mention Roman already had the ability to split his flesh voluntarily, just the ability to rapidly grow hair with "Seimei Kikan" was enough to negate the cost of using this Devil Fruit power.
"Hehe, now I hope that Klein doesn't die."
Roman, in a good mood, casually said to Nami while sitting on a white chair. — Otherwise, the newly acquired "Swap Page" would be wasted.
"Hehe, who was it that got shot six times yesterday and almost died on the spot?"
Nami gave Roman a sideways glance. Although he was protecting her, Roman's miserable state at that time almost made Nami cry. — With Roman's strength, if it weren't for protecting her, how could he be hit by mere firearms?
"Don't worry,"
Roman, who was "shot six times," calmly waved his hand.
"Mere Seastone bullets, even if they can suppress my fruit ability and affect my Armament Haki, they can't suppress my Observation Haki and 'Life Return.'"
Why was Roman so envious of the "Life Return" skill before? Because it's truly a godly skill!
"The moment I got shot, I controlled my muscles to gather at the wound, moving my internal organs out of the bullet's path. Don't be fooled by the six bullet holes, they're just 'flesh wounds.' One of the shots was even calculated to avoid hurting you, directly controlling the muscles to 'make way' for the bullet to pass through my body..."
As Roman continued to explain how to minimize damage, Nami sighed again.
This man is hopeless!
?
Facing Nami, who was sitting on the chair next to him but leaning her head on his shoulder, Roman finally snapped out of his efficient "battle" explanation.
Quiet—
The people on the coast and in the town were celebrating noisily, while on the deck, two people leaned on each other. Compared to the rhythm and melody opposite, this place was a tranquil garden.
Leisurely white clouds drifted by, letting the sun sprinkle bits of golden light; the wind gently brushed past the mast, and the sound of waves lapping against the ship's side; occasionally, a few white-bellied, black-winged seabirds flew overhead.
Roman closed his mouth, his gaze slowly extending into the distance, gradually rising, beyond the town, beyond the Marine base, to an endless sea and sky. — Roman suddenly realized that he hadn't sat down to enjoy the scenery like this in a long time.
When was the last time? In this world... it seems like it's always been fighting and training, maybe only in the previous life?
The first three years of struggling to survive were filled with blood and slaughter; later, after joining the Straw Hat crew, there were always powerful and despairing enemies ahead. It seemed like he was always pushing forward like a tightly wound spring, though Roman didn't regret his past. But:
Roman turned his gaze to Nami beside him. At some point, the girl had also looked up, leisurely gazing at the distant sky, not observing the weather, just daydreaming.
Nami leaned her head on Roman's shoulder, her orange hair, now reaching her shoulders, falling down, with a few strands brushing her face, her expression calm and serene. She wasn't her usual lively and confident self, nor was she showing her occasional cunning or vulnerability. Roman couldn't find the words to describe it, just staring blankly, as if seeing the girl beside him for the first time.
Roman had never seen Nami so quiet and gentle. Most of the time, Nami gave the impression of being lively and cheerful, with emotions on her sleeve: laughing loudly, crying loudly, drinking heavily, running away in tears...
When she directed the ship, she radiated confidence. It seemed like as long as she was there, there was no sea they couldn't cross, no island they couldn't reach. Even when Roman forced her to develop the "Thieves' Ultimate Skill" every day, she would secretly work hard despite her lazy cunning.
But at this moment, the girl leaning beside him had none of those past "images." At this moment, Nami was more like an innocent girl, leaning leisurely on a man's shoulder, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, sketching her dreams for the future.
At this moment, forgetting those titles like 'genius navigator,' 'magical girl,' 'professional thief,' Roman suddenly realized that the young girl beside him was more than just a companion...
"Roman."
"Hmm?"
Nami pointed to the ordinary people celebrating on the shore, the little girl holding her mother's finger, with a look in her eyes that was hard to describe:
Was it envy, or...?
"I suddenly think this isn't so bad."
?
"If just our brief fight can make thousands of ordinary people smile, maybe this job is worth doing..."
??
"Ah, I just want to catch more bounty captains to raise my rank for the next plan."
Facing the sentimental Nami, Roman answered truthfully.
"As for saving people, it's just a side thing. I don't fight for strangers, just thinking about Luffy and the others is enough to give me a headache."
...
"Pfft,"
Seeing Nami suddenly laugh, Roman tilted his head, puzzled.
"Nothing," Nami leaned on Roman's shoulder, staring at him from the side.
"I just think, you really are Roman, not good at making girls happy at all."
"Sorry to disappoint you."
Roman rolled his eyes,
"Girls aren't as fun as Devil Fruits."
"Really?"
Smack,
A hand grabbed Roman's collar and pulled. —Of course, with Nami's strength, she couldn't move Roman. But since Roman didn't move, the one that did was:
Orange hair filled his vision, and the next moment, their lips met, soft and with a hint of orange scent. Roman's pupils widened and contracted!
"Na..."
"Now's not the time to talk, right?"
Hearing the whisper from the girl leaning on him, Roman wasn't dumb enough to miss her meaning.
He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warmth and softness. Their eyes met, lips pressed together.
"Lie... Lieutenant Commander!"
Nearby, a second-generation Marine pointed with an 'O' shaped mouth, and Bolkin's iron hand twisted his head away, stuffing a chicken leg in his mouth.
"Shut up, can't you see? —Don't say you're with me, it's embarrassing!"
Bolkin shook his head proudly.
"Just a woman, didn't you guys... wait! Every time we go to Sabaody, you make excuses, are you actually—"
Facing Bolkin's increasingly strange look, the second-generation Marine blushed, trying to explain: "How could that be, you know how brave I am..."
"I don't know, don't know!"
The others laughed, adding fuel to the fire,
"You're so brave? Show us~~"
...
"Ahem,"
On the warship, Nami sat upright, blushing, while Roman, savoring the moment, seriously rubbed his chin.
Seems... just as good as Devil Fruits?
Interesting.
---
PS: Ahem, don't be too harsh on the romance scenes...
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