Chapter 38: Calm Belt, Panicked Toki
Not long after, Redding and his crew returned from the island.
"Didn't you find any usable wood?" Roy asked, turning his head as Toki looked on curiously beside him.
Redding sighed, rubbing his neck. "There's too little on this island. Most of the land is farmland, and the only decent tree was too close to town. It burned down before we even got there last night."
Another giant added regretfully, "Looks like we'll have to wait until the next island to rebuild the cabin."
"It's alright," Toki said softly, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you all for the effort."
As she looked down at Roy, her eyes softened without her realizing it.
Redding blinked, confused. Since when did those two get so close?
By afternoon, the giant ship slowly departed the island, its massive hull cutting through the glittering blue waves. As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the ship became a tiny shadow in the endless distance between sea and sky.
Time passed quickly. Three months slipped away in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Roy continued practicing swordsmanship with Toki, and she, in turn, helped him develop his Observation Haki.
At first, she felt a strange flutter of guilt every time she hit him during training. But as days went by, she grew used to his inhuman defense. Even when she struck hard, the iron rods would bend before they could hurt him.
Over time, that guilt faded—replaced by quiet companionship.
Toki often sat beside Roy as he trained or cooked, sipping tea and nibbling on kelp rolls he made for her. She would simply watch him in silence, her thoughts unreadable.
Roy noticed she was no longer the naive girl who wore every emotion on her face. She had learned from him—learned to hide what she felt, to stay composed.
And yet, she was still young in her own way.
In truth, Toki had expected her journey through the "river of time" to be far longer. But for reasons even she didn't understand, she had drifted fewer years than expected—arriving in this era much earlier than she was meant to.
Now, she was only eighteen—much younger than the woman she would one day become—but still several years older than Roy.
That thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
In their first month together, the crew found an island—but it was barren, nothing but sand and dry soil. Not a single tree stood in sight. So Toki continued living on the ship with Roy.
As days turned into weeks, the air between them slowly shifted.
Later, when the giants finally discovered an island with trees, Pandora, for reasons known only to him, burned all the wood to ash.
Toki had been furious for days.
After that, she gave up on the idea of building a new cabin altogether.
Still, she found comfort in one thing—Roy never crossed the line. He never made strange or improper requests.
Sometimes, just to tease him, she mimicked his expressions or his way of speaking. When Pandora saw this, he would scowl and shout, "You're so annoying, woman! You think you're that special? It's only because Roy likes being around you! Without him, you're nothing! And stop teasing me!"
Toki would always laugh softly at his tantrums. But afterward, she'd often look at Roy with a complicated expression—a mix of disappointment, confusion, and something she couldn't name.
…
Somewhere in the New World—
"Hold tight!" Redding roared as thunder rolled across the sky.
Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the sea churned violently beneath them. The wind howled, whipping saltwater across the deck as towering waves crashed against the giant ship.
Rain poured in sheets, hammering down with a force that could crush a smaller vessel in seconds.
Redding and the giants pulled hard on the ropes, their massive arms straining to stabilize the ship.
Roy grabbed Toki's hand, pulling her back toward the cabin. "Stay inside! It's dangerous out here!"
"But—"
"This is the New World," Roy said, raising his voice over the wind. "One moment it's clear skies, the next it's hell itself. Just stay inside!"
"Where are you going!?" Toki cried, holding onto his arm desperately.
"I'm going to help them!" Roy replied firmly, shaking free of her grip. "I'm not weak. I can handle it."
"You're still a child!" Toki shouted, her voice trembling with fear.
"I'm strong—you know that." Roy's tone was calm but resolute. He gently pried her hand from his arm and turned toward the raging storm.
Her hand lingered in the air, warm and trembling.
Toki stared at his back, unable to speak. She knew he was right—this boy, despite his age, had strength that far surpassed hers. He had fought pirates, battled giants, and survived storms before.
But this storm… this was different.
The waves were larger, the winds more violent—like the wrath of the sea itself.
Even for Roy, this was unlike anything they'd faced in the New World so far.
The wind howled and the waves raged, tearing through the sea like beasts unleashed. An ordinary pirate ship nearby was instantly swallowed by a monstrous wave, its hull splintering apart before it disappeared beneath the water. Not a single crew member survived.
Inside the giant ship, Amatsuki Toki clung tightly to Roy, terrified that he might lose his balance and fall overboard. No matter how strong he was, he was still a child in size and frame. If he fell into the sea during a storm like this, even his power wouldn't save him.
"Silly and cute," Roy murmured helplessly, patting her back as she hugged him tighter.
Their relationship had entered a strange, delicate stage. Toki treated him like a younger brother—but for Roy, there was something more complicated growing between them.
His intimacy level with her had reached an astonishing 210 points. It had risen faster than his bond with Linlin ever had, even though he'd known Linlin for over a year. Normally, the closer you got to someone, the slower the intimacy grew. Yet somehow, with Toki, it was climbing like a rocket.
Just a few dozen points away from that special threshold…
It could only mean one thing: true affection—or perhaps something deeper, something dangerous.
Toki might have sensed it too, but the difference in their ages made her cautious. Instead, she hid behind the title of "sister," pretending that was all there was between them.
Three months. That's all it had taken for Roy to reach this point with her. The speed of their connection left even him a little stunned.
Linlin's going to cry one day when she realizes what she missed, Roy thought with a hint of amusement. All she did was eat, eat, and eat… she never realized how much her "brother" spoiled her.
…
Roy thought about suggesting he tie a rope around himself before going outside, but when he looked at Toki—her face pale and full of worry—he changed his mind.
"Sister, are you worried about me?" he asked, his tone teasing. He could feel her trembling.
"...Yes," she admitted softly.
"You don't want me to go out there?"
"Mm."
The ship groaned as the waves slammed into it again. Plates and utensils crashed to the floor, shattering. Outside, the thunder of the giants' voices roared through the storm as they fought to keep the vessel from capsizing.
Inside, Toki's fear only deepened. Every lurch of the ship made her clutch Roy tighter.
Death felt so close.
Lightning illuminated the room for a brief instant, casting their shadows against the wall. She nodded, hugging him again, seeking warmth in the chaos.
Maybe it wasn't just fear of death that drove her. Maybe it was the loneliness. She didn't belong to this era—didn't belong anywhere. The only time she felt connected to the world around her was when she was with Roy.
If he fell into the sea, if she lost him too… that unbearable loneliness would return.
Sometimes, loneliness is far more terrifying than death.
"Sister, are you scared?" Roy asked gently.
"…Yes."
He sighed softly and patted her back. "Who's the kid now, huh?" he muttered under his breath, smiling faintly.
The ship rocked violently again. Toki lost her balance and stumbled. Roy caught her mid-fall, his small hands gripping her waist to steady her.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. It was embarrassing—she was the older one, and yet here she was, clinging to him like a frightened child.
"I'm not going anywhere," Roy said softly. "You can hold on as long as you want."
Toki didn't respond. She just nodded, pressing her forehead lightly against his shoulder.
Moments later, the storm faded. The wind died down, the waves grew still, and sunlight pierced through the clouds. The ship steadied.
"…It's over," Toki whispered, looking out the window.
The sea was eerily calm—like glass polished to perfection. Not a ripple disturbed the mirrored surface.
"Sister, you can hold me forever if you want," Roy said jokingly.
Toki instantly pinched his hand, making him flinch. "Let go."
Before he could respond, a thunderous splash erupted outside.
Boom!
A massive creature surged from the depths, sending waves crashing against the hull. Its enormous eyes rolled in their sockets as it peered at the ship.
A Sea King—huge, terrifying, and far too close.
Without thinking, Toki lunged forward and grabbed Roy again.
Even though she was trembling, her arms were firm around him, her gaze sharp and fearful as she stared at the monster.
Roy blinked. "…You're not scared anymore?"
"Oh—sorry!" she stammered, realizing what she was doing, but she didn't let go.
Outside, one of the giants shouted over the deck, "Ah! Sorry about that! I must've steered us into the Calm Belt by accident!"
"We'll deal with it right away!" another giant yelled.
Roy exhaled and pried Toki's hands off him gently. "I'll go see what's happening."
He turned toward the door, but before he could take a step, Toki's hand slipped into his again.
Her grip was tight.
He looked down at her.
Toki's eyes darted toward the window, where the Sea King's massive shadow loomed beneath the waves.
"…It's too scary," she whispered. "Let me hold on."
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]