(Filler before Outlook III appears)
Two weeks had passed since the chaos of Grey Terminal. The fight with Porchemy had left its marks — bruises, cuts, and a few lost teeth (well, not literally for anyone, thankfully).
Luffy, Ace, and Sabo had spent the time recovering, training, and—mostly for Luffy—running around causing minor chaos in the Grey Terminal. You had been quietly observing, helping in small ways when Luffy nearly broke his arm doing something stupid, or when Ace tried to teach him "serious pirate business" (which mostly involved counting rocks or scolding him).
Now, the air smelled faintly of smoke and the sea breeze carried a light chill. The three boys had gathered at their usual secret spot, a small clearing lined with rocks and makeshift benches. A few crude cups sat on a wooden plank in the center.
You perched on a nearby log, arms crossed, watching silently. The system pinged softly.
[Observation Quest: Sworn Brotherhood Ceremony]
[Requirements: Witness event without participating]
[Bonus: Analyze bonds for potential XP/REP]
You rolled your eyes at the bonus objective. As if I need more points for just sitting here.
Ace held one of the cups in his hand, eyes serious — sharper than usual. Sabo mirrored him, his top hat perched crookedly but his expression earnest. Luffy, as usual, was bouncing on the balls of his feet, grinning like an idiot.
"Oi," Ace said quietly, "we swear—no matter what— we'll protect each other, fight together, and be brothers forever."
Sabo's voice matched his, soft but firm. "We swear it."
Luffy's grin faltered for a moment as he held his cup. "Yeah! I swear!"
Ace's eyes flicked toward Sabo. "Let's do it properly. No backing out."
They clinked their cups together carefully, a small ritual. The crude sake—or water, depending on the day—was shared, and they drank. Their faces were flushed, not from alcohol but from the seriousness of the moment.
You watched quietly, noting the way their expressions softened once the ceremony was complete. Even Ace, the eternal scowl, allowed a faint smile. Luffy beamed as if he had just won the greatest prize in the world. Sabo's calm demeanor didn't hide his small, satisfied grin.
[System Note: Emotional bonds detected between Ace, Sabo, and Luffy. Potential long-term synergy unlocked.]
[REP +200 with Ace, +200 with Sabo, +200 with Luffy]
You raised an eyebrow. "Synergy, huh? Sounds like a fancy way of saying 'these three idiots are now officially stuck with each other forever.'"
A small laugh escaped you. The boys glanced over briefly, but didn't comment — perhaps too caught up in their newly forged brotherhood.
You shifted on your log, thinking. They're closer now. And if anything goes wrong, I'll be watching. From a safe distance, obviously.
Luffy jumped up, still shouting happily, "WE'RE BROTHERS FOREVER!"
Ace groaned. "Yeah, yeah… don't get too loud, idiot."
Sabo shook his head, laughing quietly. "You never change."
You smirked, letting your arms fall to your sides. They were still idiots, all of them. But they were your idiots. And somehow, that made this world feel a little less like chaos.
[Quest Complete: Witness Sworn Brotherhood]
Rewards: +120 XP, +3 STAT PTS, +50 GP
Hidden Objective: Insight Gained – Emotional Bonds of the Sworn Brothers
You leaned back against the tree, silently congratulating yourself for surviving another day.
"Next time," you muttered to yourself, "I'll make sure Luffy doesn't nearly get us all killed during a ceremony. Just once."
But even as you thought that, Luffy's booming laughter echoed through the clearing, Ace's grumble mingling with it, and Sabo's quiet chuckle completing the symphony.
You couldn't help but grin. Maybe this is what family feels like.
The system chimed one last time, almost as if in approval.
[Observation Complete: Emotional bonds noted. Story progression stabilized.]
You closed your eyes for a moment, letting the sun warm your face.
For now… everything was exactly as it should be.