Under Sandy's repeated reminders, everyone understood one truth — if Nami's illness wasn't cured first, then they'd just be aimlessly drifting across the sea aboard the Going Merry!
If another storm came, it would be simply unimaginable.
So, everyone agreed their first priority was to find a doctor — which meant heading toward Drum Island, located nearby in the same sea.
After getting Nami settled, Vivi stayed behind to take care of her, while everyone else — except Sandy, who remained on deck, and Zoro, who was taking a short nap — ran into the kitchen to eat.
Sitting on the deck, Sandy found himself deep in thought.
Why couldn't I be as kind and straightforward with people as Luffy and the others were?
Cough cough... yeah, that's a problem. Looks like I've still got a long road ahead of me.
Bored, Sandy leaned against the railing and began practicing the expansion of his Space Barrier.
What if he made it smaller — like a bullet? He didn't know how to use a gun, and his ability wasn't like Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit, so that idea was out.
Plus, since he also had Observation Haki, that sort of attack seemed impractical anyway.
So, how should he develop it?
Attack. Dodge. Escape.
He decided to focus on these three aspects first.
Combine spatial abilities with attacks, mix them with physical techniques, and refine escape options — all of that would depend on further developing his Space Fruit.
Sandy didn't want to waste time on flashy tricks.
Too many techniques would just spread him thin — and against true experts, half-mastered moves were useless.
That would just be deceiving himself.
He realized he had thought too highly of himself before.
Not only did he need to use his brain — he also needed to train his body!
Just then, Sanji walked out of the kitchen and spotted Sandy playing with some transparent, floating shapes.
"Hey, that skywalk thing you did last time — you weren't using those, were you?" Sanji asked curiously.
Sandy nodded. "Yeah. Wanna try it?"
Sanji immediately sensed the malicious grin forming on Sandy's face and waved his hands quickly. "No need, no need! Everyone's eating right now. Aren't you gonna—"
Before he could finish, he saw Sandy holding a slab of dinosaur meat — the kind they'd brought back from Little Garden — and his eyes went wide.
"Your Space Fruit is insane! Wait — how long can you keep food in there?"
Sandy shrugged and took a bite. "It doesn't spoil."
At that moment, Vivi burst out of Nami's room, panicked, "Everyone! It's bad — Nami's got a fever of forty degrees!"
Sanji's cigarette dropped from his mouth. "What did you say?!"
Everyone dashed into Nami's room.
Luffy, unusually serious, shouted, "Nami, wake up! You can't die!"
Sanji teared up. "Miss Nami, how could you be sick? I always gave you the best food — all the spoiled stuff went to them…"
Everyone's expressions darkened. This bastard…!
Amid the chaos, Nami weakly sat up. "I'm fine. Maybe it's heatstroke or the thermometer's broken. Nobody can have a fever that high… By the way, is the ship still on course?"
Vivi nodded quickly. "It's fine. We'll reach Drum Island tomorrow. Nami, please hang in there!"
Sandy stepped forward and took Nami's pulse.
Everyone's eyes brightened. Did Sandy know medical skills?
Zoro asked, "Sandy, you can read pulses too?"
Luffy grinned. "You're amazing, Sandy!"
Usopp added dramatically, "This guy Sandy — except for his bad habits, he's basically perfect!"
Seeing Sandy so focused, Sanji asked, "So? Did you find anything?"
Vivi's eyes lit up with hope. "If you can treat her, maybe we don't need to go to Drum Island!"
Sandy frowned. "Can you all just quiet down? I'm just comparing Nami's pulse to ours. You think I know medicine? Go play somewhere else."
Everyone's faces fell flat.
Sanji roared, "You bastard! You don't even know medicine, and you still won't let go of Nami's hand?!"
Ignoring him, Sandy said calmly, "Nami, you should lie down and rest. Vivi, get some warm water to wipe her body. That'll lower her temperature and make her feel better."
Nami smiled weakly. "Thank you… you're so kind, Vivi."
Vivi shook her head. "No need to thank me, Nami."
The others exchanged puzzled looks. Will that actually work?
Then, without warning, Sandy slipped an arm around Vivi's waist. Under everyone's stunned gazes, he smiled gently.
"Princess Vivi, let's ignore them. How about I take you to see the goldfish?"
Nami's face went red, her fever flaring even higher.
Vivi froze, her cheeks flushing crimson all the way to her ears.
Sanji's face twisted in rage. He let out an inhuman roar.
Zoro facepalmed. How did this guy even end up on our ship…?
"Hahahaha!" Luffy burst out laughing, pointing at Sandy. "You're hilarious, Sandy!"
Vivi stammered, "Th-that… could you please let go of me? I need to get water for Nami."
Sandy let go and pointed at everyone. "What are you all still doing here? Do any of you know medical skills? No? Then get out — you're just in the way."
Everyone exchanged glances, then glared at his back as he left the room.
A moment later, when Sandy reached the deck and was about to lie down to continue his Space Fruit training, he felt multiple hands grab him.
"What are you guys doing?!" he shouted.
"What do you think? Beating you up!"
"Yeah! Isn't this guy obsessed with his hairstyle? Let's give him a new one!"
"You dared hold Nami's hand and put your arm around Princess Vivi's waist?! I'm gonna kill you!"
Sandy tried to stand his ground. "You guys better remember this— Agh! Fine, I was wrong!"
After their chaotic "lesson," snow suddenly began to fall from the sky.
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Sandy! Quick, take out that sweet stuff from last time — let's make ice cream again!"
Usopp said, "Not yet! There's only a little snow, not enough to pack!"
Sandy glared at them and pulled out his fishing rod, deciding to fish in peace.
Luffy and Usopp exchanged a look. If we catch fish, that's even better than ice cream!
After a while, Luffy tilted his head. "Sandy, you're lame today. I've already caught something, but you haven't caught a single fish."
Sandy smirked. "You wouldn't understand. I'm comprehending Dao Rhyme."
"Dao rhyme?" Luffy repeated, eyes wide.
"Sounds cool!" Usopp said.
Everyone gathered around, curious.
Even Zoro stopped napping, walked over, and asked seriously, "Explain it to me."