When Leno returned to the cabin, Chopper was sitting at the table, holding a cup of hot tea with a blissful expression.
"Huh? Where is everyone?"
Strange. They had just been there a moment ago.
Walking to the table, Leno poured himself a cup of tea and blew on it.
"Oh, they went to take a bath. Said they wanted to warm up a little."
Bath? Leno's eyes immediately gleamed. He set down his teacup, stretched lazily in mock casualness, and then stood up nonchalantly.
"Chopper, keep an eye on the ship. I'm going to soak for a bit too—gotta relax, you know~"
"Okay, leave it to me…"
Moving carefully toward Robin's room, Leno quietly opened the door and slipped inside.
"Ah—!"
"H-Hey! How did you get in here?!!"
"Hehe~ I came to scrub your back."
Before she could react, Leno stripped off his clothes and dove straight into Robin's bath.
"No need to act all considerate! You—ah~"
Robin's startled cry echoed through the bathroom…
Before long, the small room filled with the sound of crashing waves, one after another, rising higher and higher until they reached the heavens.
An hour later—
Leno finally finished "driving the chill" from Robin's body, and the two came out together toward the dining room.
Seeing Robin's flushed cheeks and dreamy expression, Kuina and Nojiko exchanged knowing smiles. Only Nami grumbled in discontent under her breath.
Hancock leaned close to Leno, her face shy and voice soft.
"Leno-sama, n-next time… I wish to bathe with you too. I can… help scrub your back~"
"Sure~ next time for sure!"
He patted Hancock's head with a grin, then shot a mischievous glance at Robin—earning a sharp eye-roll in return.
Beside them, Yamato, finding the situation amusing, chimed in cheerfully:
"Leno, next time let's all bathe together! The more the merrier!"
Leno's gaze lingered briefly on Yamato's… generous "openness." He nodded in satisfaction, answering with mock seriousness:
"Yamato's right. Bath time's all about having company! Next time, we all soak together!"
"In your dreams! You pervert! Degenerate!"
The women all spat at him in unison, glaring at the brazen scoundrel.
They weren't as naïve as Yamato—they knew perfectly well what that idiot was thinking.
In the corner, Kaya blushed bright red, lowering her head, too embarrassed to speak.
Listening to their bold conversation made her feel unbearably awkward.
She had long since understood Leno's relationship with the others. Unlike the innocent Yamato, Kaya had read enough medical books to know exactly how the human body worked.
She risked a quick glance at Leno, then quickly looked away, heart fluttering with nervous anticipation.
Would she, someday…?
Over their time together, Leno's gentleness toward his companions and his ruthless strength toward his enemies had etched deeply into her bones.
Without realizing it, Kaya had already fallen for the man she relied on.
If something were to happen between them someday… well, maybe she wouldn't mind that either. (✿◡‿◡)
As Carmen brought out the hot pot, everyone's attention was quickly diverted.
"By the way, you big dummy—who were those guys below deck earlier? Pirates?"
After stealing a few pieces of Leno's meat, Nami finally remembered there were people in the distant buildings.
"Oh, those 'turncoats'? Don't worry about them—just small fry."
Taking a bite of the meat Hancock had placed in his bowl, Leno answered carelessly.
Someone like Drake wasn't even worth considering—just cannon fodder, barely a footnote in his plans.
"'Turncoats'? What's that supposed to mean?"
Nami and the others looked puzzled, curious why Leno called them that.
"Eh~ nothing much. Just some Navy spies disguised as pirates."
"That guy's name is X-Drake—member of a Marine Headquarters special unit called 'SWORD.' They infiltrate pirate crews to collect intel."
"Oh, I see~"
The others nodded in understanding. The Navy's tactics really were something—spying from within enemy ranks?
"Actually," Robin remarked insightfully, "it's only natural. There must be pirate spies inside the Navy as well."
After so many years of conflict, both sides had blended into each other. Nothing surprising there.
Then Leno suddenly turned toward Yamato with a teasing grin.
"Yamato, that guy's going to join the Beasts Pirates in a few years. Want to go finish him off early—save some trouble?"
"Huh? No way! I'd rather the Marines capture that jerk and lock him up forever. Better that than letting him hurt anyone else!"
Yamato pouted, clearly disgusted. She couldn't care less about anyone connected to Kaido anymore.
And so, the group laughed, ate, and chatted merrily as snow fell outside.
When everyone had finished eating, Leno glanced around at them all, his lips curling into a sly smile.
"Well then, you girls continue exploring the island on foot. I'll stay on the ship… wait for you~"
"No way!"
"You can't be serious~"
"Not a chance!"
The girls protested instantly—walking through that freezing snow again? No thank you!
"Hmm? Weren't you the ones who wanted this in the first place? Why the sudden change of heart?"
They exchanged awkward glances, then burst into nervous laughter.
Nami stepped forward, clinging to his arm and shaking it playfully.
"Big dummy, we were wrong, okay~?"
"Hmph~"
Leno turned his head away disdainfully, glancing at Nami's somewhat flat chest with mock disappointment.
He was a man of principle—he wouldn't forgive them that easily.
Then Nojiko approached shyly, hesitating before hugging his other arm.
She looked up at him with big pleading eyes, saying nothing.
Feeling the soft pressure against his arm, Leno's mind instantly began to wander.
BANG!
"You big dummy! You wanna die?!!!"
Seeing Leno's smug, satisfied look after Nojiko's move, Nami exploded in fury.
With one punch, she sent the shameless fool flying, then stomped on him for good measure.
The scene descended into chaos, and strangely, not a single person tried to stop her.
After a while, Nami delivered a thorough "lecture," leaving Leno covered in bruises and lumps on his head, obediently steering the ship again.
In the corner, Kaya covered her mouth in shock at Nami's terrifying display.
Chopper and Carmen hid behind the table, trembling.
"She's terrifying…! Angry Nami is a monster!"
"Y-Yeah… Captain Leno got knocked with one-shot…"
Right then and there, the two silently agreed on one thing—
'The person you must never anger on this ship… is Nami.'
"Better not make Nami mad ever again…"
"Y-Yeah, agreed~"