Chương 51: Welcome back
The Thousand Sunny drifted calmly through the night, its sails catching a soft breeze under the starlit sky. The Straw Hats were mostly asleep, except for Zoro, who was on watch. The swordsman sat near the ship's mast, sipping from a sake bottle, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for anything suspicious.
Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching from the shadows.
At the edge of the ship's railing, a figure crouched, cloaked in darkness. The moonlight cast a faint glow on his silhouette. His posture seemed confident, imposing even—until his foot slipped.
"Whoa—!"
The figure lost balance and toppled over the railing, smacking his head against the deck with a loud *thud*.
Zoro immediately stood, his hand on the hilt of one of his swords. "Who the hell—"
The rest of the crew began to stir at the commotion. Luffy was the first to rush out of his cabin, followed by Nami, Sanji, and the others.
"What's going on?" Nami asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I heard a thud!" Usopp said, clutching his slingshot nervously.
Everyone's attention turned to the sprawled-out figure on the deck. The moonlight finally revealed the intruder's face.
"Kikidori?!" Luffy exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.
The young man groaned, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head. "Ow... that hurt."
It was, indeed, Kikidori. Despite being three years older, he looked nearly the same. His wild, messy hair, his carefree grin, and his slightly goofy demeanor were all unchanged. The only difference was his slightly taller and more muscular frame, his clothes now fitting him better, and the unmistakable Heart Pirate Jolly Roger tattoo on his back.
"Kikidori!" Luffy ran up to him and tackled him in a hug. "You're back!"
The rest of the crew gathered around, their reactions mixed.
"Kikidori?! After three years, this is how you make your entrance? By falling on your face?" Nami said, crossing her arms but smiling slightly.
"Still clumsy as ever," Zoro muttered, though there was a faint smirk on his lips.
"Look at you! You've grown so much!" Robin said warmly, kneeling to ruffle his hair.
Sanji lit a cigarette, blowing out a puff of smoke. "Tch, you're still as dumb as ever."
Chopper hopped excitedly around him. "Kikidori! Are you okay? Do you need medical attention?"
"I'm fine, Tony!" Kikidori replied, grinning as he pulled Chopper into a hug.
"Don't call me Tony!" Chopper yelled, flailing.
As the commotion settled, Kikidori stood, dusting himself off. "Man, I missed you guys."
"We missed you too!" Luffy said, his grin as wide as ever.
Raiko, who had been watching from the sidelines, crossed his arms and smirked. "Still alive, huh, noodle king?"
Kikidori turned to him, grinning back. "Still fat, huh, monkey boy?"
The two glared at each other for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife, before Ere'ana stepped between them.
"Can't you two stop bickering for one second?" she said, rolling her eyes. "Kikidori, it's good to have you back."
"Thanks, Ere'ana," Kikidori said, his grin softening. "You've grown a lot too."
Ere'ana blushed faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "W-Well, it has been three years."
The crew sat around the deck, eager to catch up. Kikidori recounted his adventures with the Heart Pirates during the time skip, from dangerous battles to hilarious mishaps.
"So, you're really a Yonko now?" Franky asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yup!" Kikidori said proudly, puffing out his chest. "I'm the youngest Yonko in history!"
"Unbelievable," Nami muttered, shaking her head.
"You? A Yonko?" Sanji said, skeptical. "You're still just a dumb kid."
"Hey, I'm not a kid anymore!" Kikidori shot back. "I'm nineteen now! Practically an adult!"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Zoro said, smirking.
"Regardless," Robin interjected, "you've clearly grown in strength, Kikidori. Becoming a Yonko is no small feat."
Kikidori grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Aw, thanks, Mom."
Robin smiled warmly, while the rest of the crew chuckled at the familiar nickname.
As the night wore on, the crew eventually retired to their cabins, but Kikidori remained on the deck, staring out at the sea. Luffy joined him, sitting cross-legged on the railing.
"I'm glad you're back," Luffy said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Kikidori replied, his voice quieter than usual. "I missed this. Missed... home."
Luffy grinned. "Well, it's your home as long as you want it to be."
Kikidori smiled back. "Thanks, Captain."
With that, the two sat in comfortable silence, watching the waves until the first rays of dawn painted the horizon.
End of Chapter 52
HI I'm bored so send me some questions where it says ask question and next chapter I will have your name, answer, and your question and if you made a book I will send VOTES!!
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