The wind at sea was different from the wind on land. It wasn't loud, but it wasn't quiet either. It was alive—restless and wild, humming with old songs of the deep.
Toma stood at the front of the Cloudchaser, watching the sunrise bleed across the endless blue horizon. The golden light scattered over the water like fire on glass. Beside him, Selka coiled ropes with surprising precision, her red scarf fluttering in the breeze like a flag.
"You look like someone with experience at sea," Toma said, eyes still on the horizon.
Selka, not looking up from her work, replied, "This ship belonged to my father." She paused. "He was a navigator. Taught me everything important about surviving out here."
After that, neither of them spoke for a while. The Cloudchaser sliced through the waves like a whisper, steady and smooth. By late morning, the coastline behind them was nothing but a hazy line in the mist.
Toma studied the worn map in his hands. "Where to first?"
"My hometown," Selka said, pointing to a small island opposite the Grand Line. "Shells Town."
Toma blinked. He remembered it faintly—it was where Luffy first met Zoro.
"Why are we heading there? It's in the opposite direction of the Grand Line," he asked, confused.
"There's someone we need to pick up from there," Selka replied with a knowing smile.
That night, the sea had turned restless. The stars were smothered by thick clouds. Waves rose and fell like beasts breathing in the dark. The ship rocked harder, wind slapping against the sails.
Toma stood alone on deck beneath a starless sky, the cold wind biting through his shirt. His senses were on edge—his Observation Haki prickled.
Suddenly, Selka burst out from below deck.
"Ship to the west!" she shouted.
Toma spun around. A large shadow cut across the dark water. A ship was speeding toward them, sails black as ink, a faded skull painted on the main mast. Not the cheerful kind from bedtime stories—these were real pirates.
"They're coming," Selka said, her voice tight.
"Can we outrun them?"
"Not a chance."
Toma exhaled slowly. "Then I fight."
Selka blinked at him. "You can't take on an entire pirate crew alone!"
"You said you needed someone not afraid of a little chaos," he teased, trying to lighten the moment.
"I didn't mean this kind of chaos!" she said, flustered.
"I don't have to win. I just have to stop them from taking over the ship."
She stared at him for a second, then turned and ran below deck.
The pirates hit them like a thunderclap—without warning or mercy.
Grappling hooks clanged onto the rails. Rough laughter echoed across the sea as boots hit the deck. They swarmed the Cloudchaser like hungry crows.
Their leader—a thick-armed brute with a shark tattoo on the left side of his neck—stepped aboard with the calm arrogance of someone who had never lost a fight.
"Well, well," the brute sneered. "One kid, and barely anything worth stealing."
Toma didn't hesitate. His eyes darted between the intruders—seven pirates in total, including the leader.
Below deck, Selka fumbled through crates, searching for Toma's weapon.
On deck, the pirates let their guard down, assuming the lone boy was no threat.
Bad mistake.
Toma moved—fluid and fast. His fists wrapped in Armament Haki, he struck with precision. One punch cracked ribs. He spun and dodged, Observation Haki guiding his movements through the chaos. A blade slashed at him—he blocked with hardened forearms, pushing forward.
But there were too many.
And the ship rocked violently beneath him. He wasn't used to fighting at sea—every step felt unbalanced. And it was night. No stars, no moon, just shifting shadows and uncertain footing.
A fist hit him from the side. Another pirate clubbed him hard across the back.
Toma collapsed to his knees, coughing blood.
"TOMA!" Selka's scream pierced the dark. She was at the cabin entrance, hands trembling as she held out his staff, eyes wide with terror and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"A girl," the brute grinned. "Nice. She'll fetch a good price. Capture her. Kill the boy."
Toma forced himself upright, blood dripping from his mouth.
He scanned the deck—four of the pirates were down, writhing in pain. Two others were badly hurt, barely able to stand.
Only the brute remained untouched.
Toma laughed through bloodied teeth. "Kill me? In your dreams."
He launched forward again, hitting the last two pirates with focused strikes. They crumpled.
Now it was just him and the brute.
The brute pulled out iron knuckles from his coat and fixed them onto his fists. "Oi, brat… now you've really pissed me off."
Toma, barely standing, took the staff from Selka, who stood behind him now, eyes wide.
"Come on, you old dreamer," he muttered, smiling.
They charged.
Fist against staff. Steel against will. The sound of battle filled the night again.
Selka could only whisper, "Brutal."
The fallen pirates watched in horror. None dared intervene. They knew—they wouldn't stand a chance.
Toma and the brute exchanged blow after blow, not blocking with traditional guards, but countering attacks with more attacks. It was raw. Desperate. Savage.
Toma caught a glimpse of Selka's terrified face.
And in that moment, he remembered the final moments with Ms. Saint. The regret. The helplessness.
Not again.
With a cry, Toma pushed his failing body harder. He spun back, making the brute stagger. Tightening his grip on one end of the staff, he slammed the other end into the brute's ribs—once, then again.
With a final blow, the brute was thrown overboard in a blur of motion and splash of seawater.
"He won't be getting back up," Toma said, glaring at the others. "Take him and leave… unless you want the same."
Without a word, the remaining pirates scrambled to their ship and vanished into the dark like ghosts.
Silence returned—broken only by the sound of waves and heavy breathing.
Toma collapsed in the center of the blood-soaked deck.
Selka dropped beside him, tears in her eyes. "That was the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life."
Toma smiled weakly. "I can't let anyone be taken from me again."
She stared at him. "Why?"
He looked up at the moon, now free of clouds. "Because I already failed one person."
Selka lay beside him, quiet. Together they looked up at the clearing sky.
The wind calmed.
And far to the east, Shells Town was waiting.