"Eat up, eat up!"
At the dining table, everyone was devouring their food at top speed, as if sothing terrible would happen if they slowed down.
"Yohohoho, this is truly delightful!"
"What's gotten into you?" Usopp asked Brook, eyeing him curiously. "You've been unusually excited since this morning."
"What happened?"
As he spoke, Usopp glanced at iser. If he rembered correctly, iser was always the first to wake up—maybe he knew sothing.
"I know!" rry raised her small hand. "Brook said he read the logbook yesterday."
"That's right!"
Brook exclaid excitedly, "I read about all your adventures—it was absolutely thrilling!"
"To you all, what happened at Thriller Bark was nothing!"
"You resolved the rebellion in Alabasta!"
"You visited the legendary Sky Island!"
"And even at the City of Seven Waters and Enies Lobby, you clashed with the World Governnt! Not even a Buster Call could stop you..."
"Reading all that made my heart pound with excitent!"
"Ah, though I don't have a heart! Yohohoho!"
The records in the logbook had left Brook utterly exhilarated. How he wished he could have been there with his crewmates during those adventures.
"Hahaha, we've been through so much without even realizing it," Usopp laughed.
"That's true. I wonder what else we'll experience in the future," Nami mused, resting her chin on her hand as she daydread.
"Starting today, you'll be written into the logbook too, Brook."
"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to say!" Brook slamd the table enthusiastically. "Now that I'm part of the crew, I must contribute as well!"
The others chuckled at Brook's excitent—they completely understood how he felt.
"Hey, Brook~" iser grinned. "Let give you so advice."
"Mr. iser, I'm all ears."
"Here, you can never let your guard down during als~"
"Understood! I'll stay sharp!" Brook declared grandly. "If any enemy dares attack us now, I'll—"
Just then, Luffy, who had been eating nearby, suddenly announced, "That plate looks good—it's mine now!"
"Eh?!"
Watching as Luffy snatched his plate of food, Brook froze in shock.
"So that's what he ant by not letting your guard down..."
He had assud iser was warning about enemies ambushing the Straw Hat Pirates during als, but... it was because Mr. Luffy's eating habits were so wild that food could disappear at any mont?
Glancing at Luffy, who was happily munching away, Brook suddenly burst into laughter.
Even though his food had been stolen, it ant Mr. Luffy treated him no differently—he was just as reckless with everyone.
Watching Luffy get fed chili peppers for stealing Usopp's at, Brook laughed even harder.
"Yohohoho~"
"To beco a true mber of this crew as soon as possible, I'll work even harder!!"
"Don't be so nervous, relax."
Sanji patted Brook on the shoulder, signaling him to sit down and eat while handing him another plate of food.
It was clear that Sanji knew Luffy's gluttonous nature well, which was why he always prepared enormous quantities of food during als, never worrying about anyone going hungry.
As for leftovers?
With Luffy around, no amount of food would remain uneaten!
"Yes, I'll do my best to eat properly!"
"Yohohoho!"
Watching Brook rapidly devour the food, Sanji smiled and said, "That's more like it."
They were already crewmates—no need for formalities. Just eat up.
Soon, thanks to Luffy's efforts, not a single grain of rice remained from the al.
"Mr. Luffy really has quite the appetite..." Brook remarked.
Most of the food had ended up in Luffy's stomach, with the others only eating small portions.
"Ahahaha, it's because Sanji's cooking is so delicious!" Luffy laughed heartily before dashing out.
The others gradually left the dining area as well to attend to their own tasks.
"Mr. Sanji, let help you wash the dishes!" Brook volunteered.
"Oh, that'd be a huge help!"
Sanji gave Brook a thumbs-up in approval.
"rry, let's go too," iser said, turning to rry. "I'll teach you sothing new."
"And while we're at it, I'll test how well you've learned what I showed you before."
"About that..."
Little rry's eyes darted around nervously—clearly not the mark of a diligent student.
iser narrowed his eyes. "Seems our little rry hasn't been putting in much effort, huh?"
"Co on, follow outside. Ti for your test."
With a resigned sigh, rry knew there was no escaping this.
Reluctantly, she followed iser onto the deck.
Skillfully retrieving a small scroll from her ninja tool pouch, she clapped her hands together, transforming it into a large scroll.
iser spread it out on the ground and sat down.
"Alright, kiddo."
"I've already taught you how to make a Summoning Technique scroll. Now, draw it out using the thod you know."
"After that, we'll move on to other Sealing Techniques."
Ninjutsu was beyond her for now, so focusing on Sealing Techniques was the way to go.
Still... mastering Sealing Techniques would be incredibly useful.
"Fine..."
Pouting, rry obediently sat down and began sketching—though her crude drawing made iser's eye twitch.
Guess it was still too soon.
But no matter. Starting now was better than not learning at all. He was sure she'd get it eventually.
As for wasted scrolls?
With enough materials, he could make as many as he wanted, so he wasn't worried about that.
"Clapping your hands to make a scroll bigger... what an enviable ability," Chopper remarked in awe.
Noticing Chopper approaching, iser asked, "Planning to dry those herbs?"
"Yeah, managed to gather so good ones for once."
Although the environnt in the Devil's Triangle Ship Graveyard wasn't great, so rather special dicinal herbs still managed to grow there.
"I'll help you with that."
"Okay!"
Watching Chopper walk aside to dry the herbs, rry's small eyes suddenly darted around mischievously.
"No slacking off, you hear !"
rry: "...Got it."
Seeing rry behave, iser snorted. He knew exactly what this little troublemaker was thinking.
Frankly, these were all tricks he'd outgrown. Back when his cousin Tsunade forced him to study, he'd slacked off plenty too.
Of course, he'd gotten beaten up just as often.
"Hey, iser."
"What's up?"
"So what's the deal with that Kuma guy?" Chopper asked while arranging herbs. "He could've killed us outright, but instead he asked those two strange questions..."
"Is it just so twisted hobby of his?"
"Honestly, I don't know either," iser shook his head.
He couldn't figure out Kuma's motives either. It almost felt like... the man didn't truly want to kill them, yet he hadn't held back during their fight.
Maybe it really was just so weird hobby, like Chopper said.
"Hey iser! Chopper! Co quick, Franky's got so new weapon to test!" Luffy shouted before running over for a closer look.
"Hmm?"
The two herb handlers turned to see Franky and Usopp tinkering with so bizarre-looking... cannon? at the ship's bow.
"What is that thing?"
"Oh ho! This is my specially modified cannon!" Franky flashed a thumbs-up. "Both accuracy and firepower have been significantly upgraded!"
"Exactly!" Usopp laughed boisterously. "Combined with my supre sniping skills, this baby will unleash unstoppable destruction! Ahahaha!"
Watching the two fuss over their contraption, iser's mind drifted back to before Luffy's crew entered the Grand Line.
If he rembered correctly... Usopp had once bombarded a small reef island with cannons too.
Let's hope they don't blast two more people out of nowhere this ti.
The thought made iser's expression turn slightly peculiar.
"Everyone, is there anything I can help with~?" Brook ca skipping over.
"Oh yeah, we need another barrel of cola. Go fetch one for ."
"Right away!"
The delighted skeleton hurried off and returned carrying a large barrel.
"Just pour it right in here," Franky pointed at the intake valve.
"This spot here...?"
After emptying the barrel's contents, Brook stepped back. "All set now?"
"Yep! Now witness the power of my masterpiece! Usopp, fire!"
"Roger that!"
Usopp stomped hard on the accelerator, imdiately building pressure in the cannon as steam billowed out.
"FIRE!"
A gust of wind blew by. No cannonball flew out—just the rattling sound of the pressurized cannon shaking violently.
Usopp: "???"
"What's going on?"
"Maybe not enough pressure?" Franky adjusted his sunglasses. "Try pushing it to maximum."
"On it!"
With Usopp's operation, the pressure in the cannon began to rise sharply, eventually causing it to vibrate violently.
The next mont...
"BOOM!!"
The exploding cannon spewed out a massive mixture of cola, staining everyone present.
iser: ...
Splattered with cola, iser's lips twitched in exasperation. What on earth was this ss?
"It doesn't seem like cola..." Chopper licked the corner of his mouth. "It's salty."
"Salty?!"
Franky froze for a mont before his eyes widened in realization. "Brook, you bastard, did you bring soy sauce instead of cola?!"
"Ah... it does seem to be soy sauce."
"You jerk, what the hell were you thinking?!"
"I'm sorry!!"
Watching Franky chase Brook out, Luffy burst into laughter. "That guy's hilarious."
"Hilarious...?"
iser sighed helplessly before glancing at Chopper. "You'll have to wash your herbs again."
"More importantly, I think you should check on rry."
"Huh?"
As if suddenly rembering, iser turned to look at rry and imdiately noticed the little one's pitiful state. Her once-clean dress was now stained in various colors, and her face was sared like a little kitten's. Even the Scroll on the ground was soiled by the mixture of cola and soy sauce.
"Pfft..."
"HAHAHAHA!"
Unable to hold back, iser burst out laughing at rry's appearance.
"Hmph, stupid iser." rry puffed her cheeks angrily.
She was already in such a state, and instead of comforting her, he was laughing at her.
"Can't help it. You just look too funny." iser then turned to Nico Robin, who was holding a watering can. "Robin, could you take rry to get cleaned up?"
"Hmm?"
Taking in rry's sorry state, Nico Robin also couldn't suppress a chuckle.
"How did this happen?"
"Brook just brought Franky a barrel of soy sauce, which caused Franky's cannon to explode," Chopper explained.
"I see..."
Nico Robin nodded, feeling as though she had pieced sothing together. After signaling rry to follow her, she handed the watering can to iser, gesturing for him to water the plants in her stead.
"Leave it to !" Brook suddenly ran over. "I can help!"
Noticing the large bump on Brook's head, iser's lips twitched. Did Franky do that? But... what was up with this old skeleton? Why did he seem so uneasy? Almost as if... he was worried about sothing.
Nico Robin, who had also noticed the issue, cut straight to the point. "Brook... why do you look so unsettled? What are you afraid of?"
At her words, Brook fell completely silent, his usual cheerful expression vanishing instantly. This reaction confird Nico Robin's suspicions.
"Afraid?"
Chopper glanced at Brook, confused. What was there to fear? Hadn't they already retrieved his Shadow?
"Yes... I am truly terrified right now..." Brook lowered his head. "When Luffy-san invited to join your crew, I was overjoyed."
"But... am I really capable?"
"In the journey to embrace the New World, we'll undoubtedly face unimaginable enemies and hardships. What if instead of helping everyone, I end up being a burden...?"
"Would I be kicked off the ship then?"
"Losing my comrades again... returning to those lonely, desolate days... I'm terrified of that day coming."
Seeing Brook's despondent mood, the others present finally understood why he'd been acting strangely since morning.
So... he was worried about failing to fit in and ultimately being cast out?
"Brook..." Nico Robin spoke up. "I used to feel the sa way."
"Eh?!"
"Miss Robin too...?"
"Mhm." Robin glanced at the distant sky, her tone complex. "I too once feared I wasn't worthy of being their comrade. That's why I considered sacrificing my life to protect them..."
"At the ti, I thought that's what a proper comrade should do."
"But they showed through actions how wrong that was." As she spoke, Robin looked at Chopper and iser who were smiling at her, her lips gradually curving upward.
"We even defeated a Buster Call just to save this stubborn fool," iser said with a laugh.
Hearing iser call her a stubborn fool didn't anger Robin—instead, it made her smile brighter.
She had indeed been extrely stubborn back then... but that experience showed her exactly what kind of comrades she'd gained.
"A... stubborn fool?"
"Brook, true friends don't need such worries," Robin said. "If you still can't find your answer, just go ask Luffy directly."
"Do your best, Brook!" rry cheered, waving her small hands.
Robin smiled and turned to leave with rry.
"Ask Mr. Luffy directly...?"
"I agree too," Chopper said. "When we first t Luffy, we all had our own problems... but in the end, Luffy always gave us the answers."
Though he didn't understand how Luffy's incredible intuition worked, his words always hit the mark. That's why he fully supported Robin's suggestion.
"But asking Mr. Luffy is..."
"Hey, Luffy! Brook wants to talk to you!"
"Eh?!"
"Mr. iser, why would you—"
"What's up? What's up?" Luffy ca running over, his face full of curiosity as he looked at iser. "What do you need?"
Between words, he took a big bite of the at in his hand, chewing happily.
"Brook has sothing to ask you," iser said, pointing at the skeleton.
It was better to resolve Brook's psychological issue sooner rather than later—otherwise, he'd keep suffering.
Now that they were comrades, iser didn't want that for him.
Luffy blinked, tilting his head at Brook. "What is it?"
Looking at the completely unpretentious Luffy, Brook fell silent for a mont before speaking: "Mr. Luffy... is it really alright for to join the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Yeah!"
"Huh?!"
"Such an imdiate answer?" Brook stared dumbfounded at Luffy and said, "But I..."
"I've already acknowledged you, of course you can join!"
"Brook, you're my nakama!"
Seeing Luffy's toothy grin, Brook froze.
For so reason, he found this smile incredibly reassuring, and unconsciously began to relax.
"Because... I've been acknowledged..."
"Now you can rest easy, Brook," iser said with a chuckle.
Hearing iser's words, Brook instinctively turned to look at him, then glanced at the other crew mbers on deck—everyone was smiling at him.
At this mont... Brook's heart found complete peace.
"Yeah!"
"Everyone, I look forward to working with you from now on!"
"Whoo!"
Suddenly, iser jumped up, grabbing both Luffy and Brook while pulling Chopper along, landing beside Franky and the others.
"Huh?!"
"iser, what are you doing?"
"To celebrate Brook letting go of his worries, let's all take a shower together!"
"Hahaha, sounds good, let's go right no—"
Before Usopp could finish speaking, he noticed a swirling water vortex suddenly appear on the deck nearby.
Seeing this, Usopp's heart skipped a beat.
"Don't tell it's..."
"BOOM!!"
A Water Dragon suddenly surged forth, crashing directly onto iser's head before transforming into a cascading waterfall.
"SPLASH~"
The massive torrent of water forcefully flattened all six of them onto the deck.
"Damn it, iser! Who uses Water Release for a shower?!" Usopp roared with shark-like fury. "Are you trying to kill us?!"
As Usopp lifted his head to continue yelling, he got a mouthful of water, nearly choking him.
"This is way more fun, hahaha!"
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying this interaction with his crewmates.
It made him feel incredibly at ease and relaxed.
"iser, make the water stronger!" Luffy shouted.
"Right on!" Franky bood. "The SUPER today isn't afraid of so puny water flow!"
"Stronger! Stronger!"
"Got it!"
"BOOM!!"
"Damn you, iser, I... glug glug glug..."
"Hahaha."
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