The Going Sunny rocked gently beneath a cloudless sky, its lion figurehead slicing through gentle waves. For once, the sea offered peace instead of peril.
"Alright! This is the perfect weather for meat!" Luffy declared, arms stretched wide, his face lit up like a kid in a candy store.
"Luffy, we've had meat every meal since we left Punk Hazard," Nami called from the lounge, lazily fanning herself. "Eat a vegetable. Just once."
"But it's not the same!" Luffy pouted. "Meat is the king of food!"
Sanji emerged from the galley with a tray of skewers. "Relax, Nami-swan! I've balanced everything beautifully. Meat, rice, grilled eggplant—here, for you."
"Thank you, Sanji-kun," Nami said, accepting her plate with a smirk.
"You made my skewers too, right?!" Luffy lunged forward.
Sanji shoved a skewer into Luffy's mouth. "Here, eat and shush."
Chopper lounged in the sun nearby, reading a medical journal. "Ahh... nice breeze today. It's perfect for drying my herbs."
Usopp was setting up a hammock between the masts. "This is the kind of day I live for. No explosions, no monsters, just sweet, sweet sun."
Franky stood on the deck, wearing star-shaped sunglasses and applying cola wax to his hair. "This SUPER weather is perfect for maintenance. Going Sunny's practically purring."
Zoro was already asleep, one arm draped over his face as he leaned against the railing. His swords were beside him, but he hadn't touched them all morning.
Robin flipped through a book under a parasol, sipping from a tall glass of iced tea. "These days are rare. We should enjoy them."
Near the mast, Kael sat alone, a plate untouched beside him. He watched the crew without speaking, his expression unreadable.
Brook strolled up with his violin. "Would anyone like some music to go with this delightful weather? Perhaps a light waltz? Yohohoho!"
"Only if you don't play that one song about skeletons again," Usopp called.
"I take requests!" Brook replied cheerfully.
Momonosuke was pacing near Kin'emon, both deep in conversation.
"Father, what is a hammock?" the boy asked.
"A marvelous invention," Kin'emon replied sagely. "Like a bed, but it swings. Perhaps too modern for Wano."
Luffy rolled on the deck after finishing his skewers. "Usopp, we should have a hammock contest! Who can swing the longest!"
"You're on!" Usopp jumped in immediately.
Chopper clapped excitedly. "I want to try too!"
Sanji sighed and set a tray beside Kael. "You haven't touched anything. You should eat."
Kael blinked, then looked at the food. "Thanks. Just... not used to this."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "What, peace? Or company?"
Kael gave a short breath of a laugh. "Both."
Nearby, Robin watched their exchange quietly, saying nothing.
Kael eventually picked up a skewer. The taste surprised him—flavorful, warm, grounding. He looked around, the joy and chaos of the crew washing over him like ocean spray.
"You people are insane," he muttered under his breath.
"Takes one to sail with us," Franky called. "Get used to it, metal man."
"I'm not made of metal."
"Neither is the Sunny, but she's still SUPER!"
Laughter erupted again.
Later that afternoon, Brook strummed his violin and the others gathered in the shade for stories.
"Tell us another one, Usopp!" Chopper said, eyes wide.
"Alright! The Great Sniper King once fought a sea king barehanded—with only his nose as a weapon!"
"No way!" Momonosuke gasped.
"True story," Usopp said, puffing up.
Zoro cracked open one eye. "You're making that up."
"Not helping, Zoro," Usopp whispered.
Robin chuckled. "Creative license, swordsman."
Sanji lit a cigarette, leaning back. "At least it's not another ghost story."
"I could tell one!" Brook chimed. "A terrifying tale from my time adrift: The Ghost of the North Current!"
"Hard pass!" Usopp and Chopper shouted together.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Kael stood at the railing, watching the sea burn orange.
Luffy joined him.
"You okay?" Luffy asked casually.
Kael didn't answer right away. "Not sure."
"You think too much," Luffy said, picking his nose. "Sometimes it's okay to not get it all. Just move forward."
Kael turned. "That easy for you?"
Luffy grinned. "Yeah. I got my friends. That's all I need."
Kael stared at him a moment longer, then turned back to the sea.
"Maybe..." he muttered, almost to himself. "Maybe that's enough."
As darkness crept across the sea and the stars began to shine, the Going Sunny continued forward, steady and bright against the vast unknown.