"Why aren't you resting?"
A girl's voice sounded beside him.
Nami looked at Luffy.
On the deck, everyone who had been through the great battle and the tense pursuit that followed was completely exhausted, sprawled in various positions, their snores rising and falling softly.
After a full day, they had finally shaken off Garp's relentless pursuit, like a persistent illness that wouldn't let go. Everyone was worn out.
The Merry was sailing stealthily toward Water 7, using the darkness before dawn and the occasional breeze Vivi summoned. After the earth-shattering events at Enies Lobby, the World Government's eyes would certainly be fixed on them. But they had no new ship yet—Water 7 was where they had to risk returning.
Vivi was one of the most exhausted. She had been continuously using her Fūfū no Mi to assist navigation, her face slightly pale. She was now leaning against Robin, the two of them asleep by the ship's rail.
Robin's physical exertion wasn't as great as Vivi's, but the experience at Enies Lobby—facing CP9's coercion, the inner struggle, and the final determination of declaring war on the World Government—had left her drained, unable to recover quickly.
Their shoulders touched, dark hair and blue hair softly intertwined, as if supporting each other even in sleep. Nami quietly walked over and draped an extra coat over them, worried about the cold night air.
The others were in similar states. Zoro sat with his sword, back against the mast base, his head nodding but still maintaining a certain alertness. Sanji had fallen asleep leaning against the kitchen doorway. Usopp and Chopper were sprawled in the middle of the deck without any pretense, Chopper's little hoof occasionally twitching as if still running in a dream.
But Luffy wasn't resting.
He was doing sit-ups on an open area of the deck, sweat beading on his forehead, but his breathing was still steady and strong.
"Can't rest."
Luffy didn't stop his motion as he answered, his gaze on Nami. "You must be tired too. I'll keep watch."
He figured the day he could rest would be the day he became Pirate King?
Either way, things probably wouldn't calm down for a long time.
Nami walked over to him. The soft light fully outlined her figure.
Her loose orange hair fell across her forehead, tied casually in a small ponytail at the back, a few strands playfully sticking to her cheeks.
She wore a fitted white short-sleeve shirt that traced her developing figure, and gray shorts that reached mid-thigh, showing a stretch of her evenly toned calves. She radiated youthful energy, yet carried the tenacity of someone who had weathered storms.
How could anyone not worry? This was after a great battle, and Luffy was the one who had exerted himself the most.
But seeing him like this was... reassuring.
"Hmph. Showing off again."
Nami tucked a strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear, looking down at Luffy's rising and falling form. Her tone held a mix of exasperation and subtle concern. "If you keep this up, you'll run yourself into the ground."
She didn't dislike this hardworking, disciplined side of Luffy—in fact, she found it strangely appealing.
"It's fine. I'm durable."
Luffy exhaled as he moved.
"I got used to it when I was a kid. Grandpa used to throw me into the forest all the time, or tie balloons to me and send me flying. He always said I had the resilience of a cockroach."
Now Nami understood where Luffy's incredible vitality came from.
"That's different."
With that, Nami crouched down in front of him, reaching out as if to stop him from pushing himself further.
"I mean..."
She drew out her words, a hint of unconscious playfulness creeping into her voice. "There are relaxing things you could be doing right now."
She remembered how Robin had let Luffy rest his head on her lap while studying, and she had a vague sense of Luffy's unconventional learning methods.
He trained like this, but he also did various types of theoretical study.
He never let himself stop for a moment.
Luffy slowed, looking up with some confusion. "Like what?"
He truly was worn out.
The moment the battle ended, he had thrown himself back into training. They were treating him like a machine.
But the fierce fight with Aokiji, Garp's pursuit—all of it made him keenly aware of the gap between himself and the truly top fighters.
Because he wasn't strong enough, he had been chased down like this. So that next time he could truly protect his nakama—not just escape by luck—he had to seize every moment to grow stronger.
The system's tasks and punishments were one thing, but right now it was his own burning desire to become stronger that drove him.
"There are other ways, you know."
Nami didn't realize her voice carried a hint of something like longing. But she found the tone kind of cute—if it got him to stop. "Like how you studied with Robin using a lap pillow."
She blinked, the implication clear.
"It works, but—"
Before Luffy could finish, Nami sat down and patted her thighs—pressed together under her gray shorts—indicating for him to lie down.
Luffy blinked, a little surprised, but he stopped his sit-ups and shifted until his head rested on Nami's soft, firm lap.
"Then don't talk so much."
Nami looked down, her cheeks warming. She forced herself to stay calm, feeling the weight on her lap and the warmth radiating from him. Her heartbeat unconsciously quickened.
"Nami, since when did you get so assertive?" Luffy gazed up at her face, so close now, and smiled.
From this angle, the line of Nami's jaw was elegant, her orange eyes exceptionally clear in the soft light.
"Hmph."
Nami seemed pleased by the compliment, her eyebrows curving with a hint of pride. "I've always been like this."
"Then let's start."
Luffy turned his head slightly, his cheek unconsciously brushing against her leg, his warm breath just reaching the small strip of skin below her shorts.
"!"
Nami's face went bright red. She quickly reached down to straighten his head, like a startled cat. "You're not allowed to move!"
That breath had tickled—all the way to her heart.
"Then should I look at you?"
Luffy obediently stopped moving, but his eyes fixed straight on Nami.
Staring at her so intently, Nami drew back slightly, her gaze wandering. But she couldn't help glacing at him quickly. Her eyes sparkled, the blush still on her cheeks. She mumbled softly, "Th-that's... fine."
Luffy smiled and stopped teasing her.
The daily physical training required by the system had just ended. Now was the time for learning navigation with Nami.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!