Lying face-down on the bed, his teeth clenched, the massive bump on the back of his head throbbed with a searing pain that still kept him up at night. He’d complained more than once that Orin didn’t know how to hold back.
But clearly, Orin didn’t take it to heart. Not long after Shanks woke up, he showed up with Buggy in tow to visit.
"Don’t be so petty, Shanks. Getting beat up is part of growth, y’know. Besides, it’s not like I did it on purpose~"
Orin crossed one leg over the other, resting his chin on one hand while gnawing on a giant drumstick with the other, grinning as he spoke.
"Yeah, Orin helped you master Armant Haki, didn’t he?"
Buggy chid in.
Orin kept smiling,
But the truth was—he had done it on purpose.
Because if he didn’t beat Shanks now, twenty years later it’d be much harder.
After all, Conqueror’s Haki mastery, Future Sight, and Observation Killer—plus a crew that could rival Roger’s? Shanks was just as much of a cheat as Orin.
Better to leave so dirt now, sothing fun to talk about next ti they et.
Unfortunately, Shanks didn’t appreciate the sentint. Pouting like a child, he turned his head away from Orin.
But as soon as he moved, the bump on the back of his head got jostled, making him grimace in pain all over again.
"Quit sulking. at. You want so?"
Orin looked at the still-grumpy Shanks, who’d been unconscious all day, and held out the giant bone in his hand.
"No."
"Really not eating?"
"No."
"Then I’ll finish it. The kitchen’s out of ingredients anyway. We’ll have to wait till we dock tomorrow to restock."
Shanks gritted his teeth.
"I’m not even hungry. Do whatever you want!"
Growl...
"Pfft..."
Orin and Buggy struggled to hold in their laughter as Shanks flushed bright red, biting his lip in frustration.
"Shut up! You two—I said I’m not eating, and I an it! I’d rather starve, drop dead on the deck, get eaten by a Sea King than eat!"
"Alright, alright. I’ll just leave it here. Eat it if you get hungry."
Seeing that Shanks still refused to turn around, Orin gave Buggy a look, and Buggy caught on instantly.
"Yeah, Shanks. Take a rest, alright?"
The two walked to the door, opened it, but didn’t step out. Instead, they quietly closed it again.
Standing near the door, they pretended they’d left.
Shanks, still unaware due to not having Observation Haki, heard the door close and imdiately rolled over, reaching out for the at on the table.
He’d been drooling over the sll for ages, only pretending to hold out. Now that they were gone, he could finally dig in.
"Pfft..."
Just as he grabbed the at, ready to feast, a barely stifled laugh interrupted him.
Startled, Shanks whipped his head toward the door.
There they were—two silhouettes, both grinning wickedly at him.
His face instantly turned as red!
"You two bastards!!"
"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
...
During their ti sailing with the Roger Pirates, they really had gone on quite an interesting journey.
Orin had to admit it.
At the end of the year 1496 of the Sea Circle Calendar,
After Kozuki Oden joined the ship, the Roger Pirates followed the decoded Poneglyphs straight back to the Grand Line.
Crossing the Calm Belt, reaching Skypiea, Water 7...
They saw a lot, learned a lot, and everyone enjoyed the journey imnsely.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho! Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
Even knowing their farewell was approaching, Orin still felt happy.
This Chapter of his youth—he would never forget it.
After getting coated at Sabaody Archipelago, they wasted no ti heading for Fishman Island beneath the sea.
Orin had wanted to explore the fabled auction house, the slave market, and the Celestial Dragons’s pet exhibit. Maybe even ride a Bubble Bike or two.
But Captain Roger’s illness couldn’t be delayed. They had to move on.
Especially when they passed a street where scantily clad girls kept waving at him—more than once.
After years sailing with only a bunch of burly n, and even though Lady Toki was aboard now, she was still soone’s wife—
A newly postpartum wife at that.
Orin firmly believed: no touching crewmates’ wives.
Now a teenager, Orin felt an overwhelming urge to use his treasure to "help" those poor unfortunate girls—but alas, Buggy and Shanks dragged him away.
Sigh...
Fine, fine. He could wait. Once the crew disbanded next year, he’d co back and enjoy it properly.
Casting one last longing glance behind him, Orin finally made up his mind and returned to the ship.
The newly coated Oro Jackson slowly descended into the depths of the sea.
Worth ntioning: while Roger and Oden listened to the Voice of All Things, Orin tried to do the sa—but heard nothing.
It made him wonder if the Voice of All Things was an innate gift rather than a form of Observation Haki.
Because soone like him, a powerhouse in Observation Haki, should have been able to hear sothing.
With nothing else to do, Orin sat at the ship’s edge, fishing with Conqueror’s Haki.
And to his delight—it worked!
No more starving at sea again.
All he had to do was glare and a whole school of fish would float belly-up. As much food as he wanted.
Even mighty Sea Kings, when confronted with advanced Conqueror’s Haki, froze up in terror if they didn’t faint outright. Easy pickings.
After half a day,
A stunningly beautiful underwater island finally appeared before them.
Orin, born and raised in the New World, had never been here before.
Upon landing, Roger and the others were warmly welcod by the new king, Neptune.
Not that he had a choice—being one of the rulers of the New World, Roger was not soone a tiny island like Fishman Island could afford to offend.
While there, they t a young shark rmaid nad Shyarly—Arlong’s little sister, and a future NPC of Fishman Island known for her fortune-telling.
But Orin wasn’t interested.
Whether short-term Future Sight or prophecies decades ahead, he didn’t believe anyone could rival him.
At most, she’d just predict the birth of Shirahoshi.
Once they re-entered the New World, it was already 1497 in the Sea Circle Calendar.
This was the year the Roger Pirates would reach Laugh Tale—the culmination of their world tour.
And the year Orin, the freeloading winner, would be carried to glory.
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