Chapter 43
From the perspective of getting to know both groups of people, it's better for them to be on good terms than to be on bad terms. Of course, there are also those who are on bad terms, like Lyme, who hasn't hidden his excessive attention to you since you met, and now sits behind you with a drink as if it were his right, his strong presence comparable to a lion with its back to the forest.
That's not the main point. The main point is that Rem is sitting silently behind you, seemingly not intending to talk to you or Ace and the others.
Considering the tense atmosphere between Ace and Rem just now, and the fact that you were taken care of by them on Red-Haired Shanks' ship, you picked up your glass and stood up under the watchful eyes of Ace and the others.
"I've received some help from the Red-Haired Pirates, so I'd better go check on them."
The faces of the others who heard this were not good. Rem, who stood up with you, let out a whimper-like laugh, which made Ace, who was sitting to your left, reach out and grab your wrist.
You look at Ace, whose face is unusually serious, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"It's okay if you don't want to go."
The single syllable with a hint of reminder reminded Ace of something, and he added another sentence with a smile.
"Red-Haired Shanks isn't the type to care about these things. After all, he's one of the Four Emperors."
The added comment earned him a half-smile from Izou and Harta, and a disgruntled murmur from Lem.
Izang: "Although the wording is a bit off, what Ace said makes sense."
Harta: "Yes, just sit down. Marco and Vista will thank them for you."
Clearly, these two are on Ace's side. You know they mean well, but their conversation is a bit strange. What's strange about it is that their dialogue implies you're not their youngest brother's friend, but a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Under the urging gazes of the three, you shook the hand that Ace was holding. Ace looked a little confused, but let go as you asked.
"It's better to say some things yourself; it shows more sincerity that way. I'll come back after I've finished talking to them."
Your answer caused the three of them to pause slightly. Ace, who was the first to react, tried to get up, but you stopped him by reaching out your hand.
"Don't worry so much, Marco and Vista are still there, aren't they?"
This wasn't just for Ace, but also for Izou and Harta, who had planned to go with you. After confirming that none of the three intended to leave with you, you turned to look at Rem. Rem, who had been terribly gloomy not long ago, was now in such a good mood that it was as if flowers were blooming on his head. He walked briskly beside you, leading you in the direction of Shanks and his group.
Once you and Lem were out of sight, the previously relaxed atmosphere turned somber.
"How annoying, he acts like he's the winner. No wonder Ace chose him as his opponent as soon as they met, so he has a 'criminal record'."
The once dazzling sapphire is now tinged with a misty hue, a sight you've never seen before from Harta. In contrast, Izo is savoring the words you just spoke.
"Her words are more important than that."
The meticulous Izang could easily understand the meaning behind your words, which echoed Harta's statement, emphasizing that "you" are an individual, not a collective that needs them to "thank" you on your behalf.
As for Lyme, who seems to have won the battle? Sorry, Izo doesn't think Lyme is as important to you as their youngest brother.
After being reminded by Izang, Ace, having deciphered the meaning behind your words, felt somewhat troubled. Although he had said he would help you before disembarking, hearing the news that you might leave made him feel as if a stone was pressing on his chest, and he couldn't accept this fact calmly.
Even if he knew from the moment he met you that you would leave.
-
"Oh? Isn't this the one who can really drink? Come, come, sit here with me."
Shanks, who was the first to notice you and Rem, raised his glass to you. As for the seat Shanks mentioned, it was the empty seat that Mihawk moved to the side of after he spoke.
The implication is that if you sit down, you'll be surrounded by Shanks and Mihawk, which makes you hesitate.
Seeing this, Vista, who was sitting next to Mihawk, waved to you and jokingly guided you to sit down.
"Why are you sitting there? She's on our side now! Come on, sit between me and Marco, so Shanks doesn't get drunk and throw up on you!"
"Yeah! It would be terrible if Redhead got drunk and threw up on you. It's much better to come here!"
The conversation between Vista and Marco drew a disgruntled "Hey!" from Shanks, along with Beckman and Hongo's uncontrollable laughter. A cheerful atmosphere filled the room, and you naturally sat down between Marco and Vista. Rem, a step behind, hesitated before moving around to sit next to Hongo.
As soon as you sat down, Shanks opened his eyes wide and looked you up and down, then exclaimed in surprise, "You look even thinner than when you were on our ship. Did Marco and the others not take good care of you?"
Following Shanks's lead, the Red-Haired Pirates followed closely behind.
Beckman: "Your face looks thinner, is it because the food on Whitebeard's ship wasn't to your liking?"
Hongo: "Is there a problem with the dosage of the medication Marco is using? I'll take a look at it for you in a bit."
Lyme: "Your room is still on the ship, and nothing inside has been touched."
Before you could defend the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco and Vista, who were sitting next to you, spoke up and took off their hats.
Marco: "My dosage was off? That's your fault, Hongo. With me here, you don't have to go to Hongo's place."
Vista: "What are you saying? She's always on the verge of crashing here. And she doesn't need to come to your ship at all; she's really close to Yuka and Ace!"
Seeing that a group of pirates were about to start a debate about you, you quickly stood up, raised your wine glass, and forced a smile under their gaze.
"I disembarked in a hurry and didn't have time to bring gifts for the Red-Haired Pirates. I hope you won't mind."
Your words earned you a raised eyebrow from Shanks, who seemed quite interested. Clearly, Shanks' interest had shifted from the bickering between the two ships to you. Marco, already guessing what you were going to do, hesitated, but finally, at Vista's prompting, waited until you finished what you were doing.
"I'll drink this glass of wine first."
As you spoke, you downed the drink in your glass in one gulp, then showed the empty glass to the others. This action earned you a hearty laugh from Shanks.
"Your alcohol tolerance has improved in the past six months! I told you, she's quite interesting, isn't she?"
Shanks spoke while patting Mihawk, who remained silent but whose gaze was fixed on you. Compared to Shanks, whose smile made Beckman shake his head, you seemed to see a hint of helplessness in his sharp golden eyes.
Before you could even see Mihawk's expression clearly, Marco, who had patiently waited until your performance was over, gestured for you to sit down. The moment you sat down, Marco poked your head with his index finger.
"You drank it all in one go? Won't you feel terrible when the alcohol kicks in?"
Marco didn't use any force, but the movement of standing up and sitting down made you a little dizzy, so much so that when Marco's index finger touched you lightly, you tilted your head slightly in the direction he touched you.
"I think...it's alright?"
Vista, sitting next to you, reached out and patted you on the back, letting out a helpless laugh.
"She seems to be drunk."
Vista's words drew a disgruntled shout from Shanks, who immediately stood up and moved from where he was sitting to stand in front of you: "You can't get drunk so quickly, I want to catch up with you some more!"
The series of interactions between the three of you managed to calm you down. After thanking Vista, you looked at Shanks sitting in front of you and returned his gentle smile.
"I'm not drunk, I just stood up and sat down again, and I haven't recovered yet."
"I see. But you shouldn't drink it, otherwise I won't have a chance to talk to you."
As Shanks spoke, Marco took the glass from your hand and turned to ask a nearby crew member for juice. Even faster than the crew member, Mihawk handed over the juice.
No one has ever drunk this.
More than Mihawk's proximity, you were surprised that he could precisely get your preferred flavor. Not only you, but Marco and Vista, sitting beside you, also looked surprised. Before things got any more confusing, you took the juice from Mihawk with both hands and thanked him uncertainly.
"Th-thank you, Mr. Hawkeye?"
Perhaps because few people address them or those they know as "Mr.", the few people closest to you are laughing happily, while Mihawk, known as "Mr. Hawkeye," looks helpless and corrects your way of addressing him.
"Just call him Mihawk."
“Okay, Mihawk.”
After a brief exchange, Mihawk returned to his seat, while Shanks was called back to his seat by Beckman. Although it was supposed to be a reunion, you spent most of the time listening to Shanks and the others chat.
The fact that the Navy rarely mentions you, like the appearance of the fruit on this deserted island, and how much attention they pay to it, makes you feel at ease.
Feeling relieved, the alcohol you just drank also surged up along with drowsiness. You tried to suppress a yawn, but your willpower couldn't overcome your physical reaction, which Marco noticed from the side.
"Shall I come with you back to the ship?"
Although it was a question, Marco was already prepared to get up and leave. You reached out and grasped Marco's wrist, shaking your head to refuse his offer.
"I can manage on my own, you guys continue chatting."
Noticing the commotion, Rem tried to get up, but Hongo pulled him back down to sit. Before Rem could react, Hongo stood up and, with a smile, invited you to come along.
"Perfect timing, I was thinking of going back to the ship to get something, let me see you off."
No, you refused Marco not because you wanted someone else to accompany you, but simply because you didn't need them. While you were still conscious, you tried to refuse the invitation from your fellow villagers.
At the same time, Mihawk, who had barely spoken throughout, stood up. Perhaps due to the influence of the alcohol, his golden eyes, which had initially instilled fear in you, now appeared unusually gentle.
"I send you."
One sentence left you stunned, and even Vista next to you gasped.
Now, how do you manage to fend off three people and escape this encirclement full of pirates?
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