Chapter 21
Ever since that incident on the deck, Lem seems to be intentionally avoiding you. As for how you, who didn't really interact with Lem to begin with, came to this conclusion, you got up for several days in a row and found different colored, treated seashells in a corner near the doorway where no one would step on them.
The less-than-perfect shell bracelet reveals the maker's less-than-sophisticated craftsmanship, but the carefully selected shell colors and sizes compensate for this. Besides this, there are also shell earrings or pendants made into specimens.
At first you might find it strange, but if you receive similar gifts for several days in a row, even the most oblivious person should realize who's behind it.
You're pretty sure you never told Lim you liked seashells, nor did you give Lim any reason to give you a gift. So how did Lim get to this misunderstanding?
I did think about talking to Lem about this, but Lem wouldn't let you see him. However, when you left the room, the gazes that were so intensely focused on you only increased.
If I'm not mistaken, you're probably being pursued by a pirate right now. And the pirate pursuing you seems to only know how to give gifts, and the gifts he gives... are most likely made on the spot.
The overly sincere and explicit emotions give you a headache and make you uneasy. You believe that no one likes the feeling of being targeted by a large, ferocious beast, at least you don't.
Left with no other option, you decided to talk to Hongo on the ship, who could discuss the matter of Lyme with you. Perhaps because you had been coming to clean the infirmary early every day and then disappearing without a trace, Hongo's expression froze for a moment when he saw you still there.
In the time it takes to take a breath, Hongo adjusted his expression and threw out a topic to you as you were organizing your thoughts.
"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
This is a very subtle question. Your body isn't sick, but you are definitely "not feeling well." After a moment's hesitation, you nod under the gaze of your neighbor.
"Actually... there's something I want to ask you."
Upon hearing this, Hongo's pupils widened slightly, and in the blink of an eye, you saw a smile replace surprise in his eyes.
"Of course, as long as you're willing to talk to me."
It might be your imagination, but you feel that Hongo is in a much better mood now than when he arrived. As for what made Hongo so happy, you're not quite sure.
So, after Hongo expressed his willingness to chat, you brought up the gift Ryme had recently given you. Perhaps it was the artistic touch you added to the conversation that made you feel a little uncomfortable, but Hongo, who was sitting right across from you, kept trying not to laugh as soon as you mentioned how bothered you were by Ryme's gift.
Hongo's reaction left you feeling helpless, and you thought you might have talked to the wrong person. Considering that you were the one who started the conversation, and that Hongo was trying very hard to hold back his laughter, you decided to let him finish laughing before continuing.
“Okay... Dr. Hongo. I don’t know why you’re laughing, but you can laugh.”
Faced with your helpless persuasion, Hongo, who had been suppressing his laughter, burst out laughing, his strong upper body swaying from side to side as if he had heard the biggest joke of the century. Only after the laughter that lingered in the infirmary subsided did Hongo stop laughing and look at you, whose face showed helplessness because of his laughter.
"Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, I just found it a little funny that Lyme gave you a gift."
Perhaps he was trying to stop you from misunderstanding, so Hongo first explained why he was laughing. After you nodded in understanding, he then shared his thoughts on the topic we had just discussed.
"I guess Lyme knows you'll be bothered by the gift he gave you, so he's avoiding you."
"But what bothers you isn't the gift itself, but rather Lyme's act of giving it, right?"
When asked by Hongo, you nodded earnestly, almost saying, "Please help me, Dr. Hongo." Perhaps finding your reaction amusing, Hongo maintained a slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth, but he didn't laugh as broadly as before.
"I understand, I'll talk to Lem about it. Is there anything else you need me for besides this?"
The first part of Hongo's sentence relieved you, who were troubled by the gift of Inleum, while the second part made you feel guilty for coming to Hongo about Inleum.
Hongo, with his keen insight into people's hearts, naturally knew what your sudden silence meant.
"Okay, I'm glad you think of me first when you encounter problems. At least on that point, I have a good image in your mind."
However, Hongo's feignedly relaxed tone didn't make you feel any better after you left, having resolved the issue. "Changing plans on the spur of the moment, is that alright?" Deciding to stay a little longer in the infirmary, you looked at Hongo, who asked with a "what's wrong?" expression, and you uncertainly voiced the topic that had just come to mind.
"Actually... I have something else to ask you."
"I want to know what everyone in Hongo and on the ship likes."
The unexpected topic made it difficult for Hongo to maintain his composure; he was quite surprised. But after the initial surprise, Hongo couldn't help but chuckle.
Aren't you very afraid of pirates?
Clearly, the topic you raised has piqued Hongo's interest. Seeing that Hongo showed no other emotion besides surprise on his face, you organized your thoughts and explained why you thought this way.
"I don't deny that, but after spending so much time together and receiving so much care from you, it's a bit shameless of me not to know if you like it..."
Hongo nodded in response without interrupting you, looking like he wanted to hear more, which gave you a headache as you racked your brains to come up with a topic. But since you were the one who suggested the topic, whether to continue or not was also up to you.
"Although I am unable to repay you now, I may be able to in the future. Once I have a better understanding of you, I will be able to repay you in the future, right?"
Before this, you never dreamed you'd be making empty promises. And Hongo, listening to your rosy pronouncements, seemed barely able to suppress a smile. Knowing full well it was a baseless "pie in the sky," you sighed and resignedly accepted Hongo's laughter.
"Okay, I know this sounds funny to you."
Stopping his laughter, Hongo shook his head and explained, "You misunderstood. I just think you're very interesting."
"Of course, I also believe that you will repay us when you are able to in the future. But how should I put it, this is the first time I have seen a situation like yours."
You understand what Hongo meant. After all, in the eyes of these pirates, treasures that ordinary people could never obtain in their entire lives are nothing more than shuttlecocks. And yet you, who fear them, offered to repay their kindness—it's laughable, to say the least.
Having accepted the reality of being teased, you somewhat regretted bringing up the topic, but Hongo, noticing your regret, showed no intention of ending it. He rested his elbow on the table beside him, propped his chin on his palm, and gazed at you with misty eyes and a meaningful smile on his face.
Aren't you afraid that what I want is for you to give up everything you own?
Even though Hongo still had a smile on his face, his words sent chills down your spine, reminding you of the request Rem had made to you that night. And having already learned your lesson once, you almost suffered the same loss again.
"...You're right, perhaps I should add a limit to what I can give."
Your answer was probably quite different from what Hongo had expected. Hongo's smile was replaced by a look of astonishment, followed by his laughter that left you completely bewildered.
Come to think of it, is Hongo such a cheerful person? Even when he's with Shanks and the others, you rarely see Hongo laugh like that; he usually just gives a faint smile.
Is what you're saying really that funny? Forgive me for not understanding the Red-Haired Pirates' sense of humor, and Hongo had no intention of letting you know what he was laughing at.
"I understand. Since you're so sincere, I'll tell you what they like."
Hongo, suppressing his laughter, casually mentions the things that the Red-Haired Pirates crew members you're on good terms with like. Unsurprisingly, it's mostly about food, drink, and treasure, reinforcing your preconceived notions about pirates.
Among his acquaintances, Beckman and Lem have quite different tastes. With the former... you wouldn't dare risk it; with the latter, your aesthetic standards simply don't meet theirs.
After getting to know the people you interact with more often, you noticed that he was missing from the list of crew members mentioned by the local resident. You haven't forgotten what the subject of this topic is.
"And what about you?"
When your eyes meet unexpectedly, Hongo is momentarily stunned, surprised that you noticed the inconsistency in your conversation. Perhaps it's this surprise that makes Hongo's tone reveal an undisguised smile.
"Me? To be honest, my tastes are pretty much the same as theirs. I'm probably just cleaner than them, you know that, right?"
When the second half of the sentence was mentioned, you nodded in agreement to the question from the villager, who seemed to be asking for your approval. The villager responded with a smile that satisfied you.
A subtle, unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes, reflecting your image. As the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly heavy, Hongo, who had been resting his chin on his hand, shifted to a thoughtful gesture of pinching his chin.
"However... there is something I really want now, do you want to know?"
Hongo didn't explicitly say what he wanted, but the intense gaze he gave you made you hesitant to engage in conversation. What seemed like a casual chat between friends actually carried a dangerous aura emanating from Hongo.
Out of an instinct to avoid danger, you politely declined the topic that was leading into conversation.
"It feels like something I know I can't do, so I'll just forget about it."
You forced a calm smile and returned Hongo's. Unsurprised by your response, Hongo suppressed the tension that had made you freeze, reverting to his usual easygoing and approachable demeanor.
"That's true, I was just joking, you don't need to be nervous about it."
Still not fully composed, you nodded stiffly. Seeing this, Hongo stood up, but the topic he brought up contradicted his actions and thoughts.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'll go talk to Lem about it."
Clearly, Hongo knows that you have only one purpose for this trip, and the current action of acting first and informing later is also an action taken from your perspective. Realizing Hongo's reasons for doing so, my nerves, which had been tense due to the previous topic, eased somewhat.
"No, that's all. I'll leave this to you. Thank you so much."
Hongo, who was used to your thanks, chuckled and accepted your thanks.
"You're welcome."
The conversation ended there, and the clinic, which should have been a permanent place for local residents, became your private domain once again.
As for the things in this village that didn't specify a quantifier or subject... you'd better not delve into it.
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