"So this is the restaurant on the sea? That fish is huge."
"Hey, isn't that a little too wild?"
The calm surface of the sea rippled softly as a small pirate ship sailed forward—its flag fluttering with a very familiar mark. A skull wearing a big straw hat. There was no mistaking it.
This was the Going Merry, the ship of the Straw Hat Pirates.
On the deck, Luffy and the others leaned against the railing, gazing ahead with pure awe. Standing slightly apart were Johnny and Joseph—the bounty hunter duo they had met earlier, who also happened to be Zoro's acquaintances. They had guided the Straw Hats here, helping them locate the famous floating restaurant—
Baratie.
From the outside, the sea restaurant looked like an enormous fish floating on the water. The bow formed a slightly open fish mouth, while the stern curved into a large tail. Compared to the Merry, it was enormous—more like a painted vessel straight out of a carnival than a building.
Just as Luffy and the others were admiring the sight, a heavy shadow loomed over the Merry from the right. A massive Navy warship had quietly sailed alongside them while no one was paying attention.
The huge hull blocked the sunlight, casting a sharp shadow over the Straw Hats. Naturally, a warship this big wouldn't go unnoticed for long.
"A real pain just showed up," Zoro muttered, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword. He was ready to strike the moment something went wrong.
"Why the hell is there a Navy ship here of all places?!" Usopp panicked, clutching his slingshot. "We're pirates!"
As Zoro and the others went on guard, a figure stepped to the railing of the warship—the same man who had invited me, Kiana Kaslana, to dine at Baratie.
It was… Hobodi.
"A pirate flag I haven't seen before," Hobodi said curiously. "A new pirate crew?"
His gaze drifted to Johnny and Joseph, who had deliberately kept their distance from Luffy and the others. Hobodi recognized them immediately. He remembered them as bounty hunters with small ambitions—chasing only low-reward criminals. Frankly, he looked down on them. They weren't strong, didn't want to join the Navy… just pathetic small-timers.
A pair of nobodies, he thought.
Yet here they were—on a pirate ship.
Did they get caught? Served them right.
A mocking grin appeared on Hobodi's face.
"Actually, those two look familiar…" he said loudly. "Aren't they the two bounty hunters who specialize in capturing weaklings—only to end up captured by pirates themselves?"
"…What did you just say?" Johnny's temper immediately flared. Being belittled was one thing—but being called a "small-time bounty hunter" cut deep. Even if it were true… the way Hobodi said it made blood boil.
Johnny suddenly pulled out a thick bundle of wanted posters and threw them dramatically into the air.
"You call THIS 'small-time bounty hunting'?!"
The fluttering wanted posters rained down over the Merry's deck. Among them, one particular poster landed near Nami—and her eyes froze.
It was a face she never wanted to see again.
Right then, I stepped out of my room aboard the warship—Escorting me was Hatcher, the one-eyed Marine officer assigned to watch over me. We arrived on deck, and I immediately noticed the Merry beside our vessel.
My breath caught.
That's… the Going Merry?!
That design—there was no way I could mistake it. My pulse quickened.
Luffy… are they really here?
Overcome with excitement, I rushed to the railing of the warship and leaned out to get a better look at the Merry. And almost at the same moment—Luffy and his crew noticed me as well. Johnny and Joseph stared, mouths hanging open.
The iconic red flip-flops and large straw hat confirmed it instantly.
Monkey D. Luffy.
And right beside him—a green-haired swordsman with three katanas at his waist, staring sharply in my direction.
Roronoa Zoro. The real thing.
Then came Nami, lively and youthful as ever, and Usopp with his unmistakable long nose. And next to them… two people I vaguely recognized.
I strained my memory—their faces rang a bell. Zoro's acquaintances? Right—bounty hunters!
"Kiana-chan, sorry to keep you waiting. We've arrived. Baratie is just ahead," Hobodi announced, stepping beside me. He pointed toward the floating restaurant. "There it is. Not bad, right? They say the inside is even more extravagant."
"Mm. Let's go then."
I had already seen Luffy once. That alone made this whole trip worth it. Now I could focus on the real objective.
"…She's so beautiful."
Although only my face was visible from the railing, it was enough to leave the Straw Hats speechless. Johnny and Joseph stared blankly.
"Hey, Luffy—did you see that woman just now?" Usopp exclaimed. "She's gorgeous!"
"What's beauty? Can you eat it?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
"…Are you kidding me?" Usopp muttered weakly.
"Hey, Zoro," Luffy suddenly continued, pointing. "That woman had three swords like you. Does she use Three-Sword Style too?"
"How would I know?" Zoro grunted, never taking his eyes off the three blades at my waist. A swordsman—and with three swords? That caught his attention.
"That woman also uses three swords? No way… that's too beautiful to imagine… I can't look." Johnny muttered, panicking slightly. He pictured me biting a sword with a charming cherry-red mouth… and immediately rejected the idea. Three-Sword Style is strictly for Zoro! Don't ruin the beauty!
The chatter from the Merry drifted clearly to our deck. Hobodi frowned, feeling annoyed, and turned to the Marines beside him.
"Eyesore. Sink it."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines saluted. Hobodi nodded approvingly, preparing to escort me onto a small boat toward Baratie.
Of course—I heard him perfectly. But I didn't step in.
Because I wanted to see it.
A real, live demonstration of Luffy using his Gum-Gum Fruit.
The cannon was loaded quickly. Its muzzle aimed straight at the Going Merry. I stood at the railing, watching with growing anticipation.
Alright, Luffy… show me the power of the future Pirate King.
With a thunderous BOOM!, the entire warship shook from the recoil—and the cannonball shot straight toward the Merry!
"YOSHA! Leave it to me!"
Luffy instantly leaped into the air, stretching both arms—to the bow and stern—and spread himself into a giant 'X'.
His stomach caught the speeding cannonball—like a slingshot being pulled to its absolute limit. But he held it!
Amazing—my hands almost came together to clap. But just as I was about to cheer—
Luffy's left hand slipped.
"Oh no."
He lost control—and the cannonball flew past him at full speed—
—and blasted straight into Baratie.
BOOM!
The explosion created a giant hole in the upper floor of the restaurant. Thick black smoke poured upward, curling into the sky.
"…"
Was that in the anime? I… don't remember. It's been so long.But yep—that's Luffy. Absolute chaos incarnate.
I boarded the small boat to head for Baratie—mission on my mind. Not to mention, I still had to deliver Zoro's new swords.
However… a thought struck me.
It might be too early to give them to him. His current swords aren't damaged yet. He might refuse the gift.
Better to wait… until his duel with Mihawk, when his blade breaks. That's when I'll give him Guiche and Yuki. It'll feel right.
A better moment… a better legend.