Chapter 7
The next morning, you told Lu about making fried rice with the ingredients the night before, and Lu laughed and told you not to worry about it.
“I’ve already heard Lyme say that. And I also said that you can use the kitchen whenever you want.”
The openness of the road puts you at ease, but at the same time, you are puzzled by what the road says.
You make fried rice for Lime... Is it so bad that you need to complain to Lu? You don't dare to ask, you don't dare to say, you can only swallow your doubts and decide to avoid the kitchen as much as possible.
Staying in the kitchen is meant to minimize the chance of attracting attention, but if you impulsively make fried rice and end up drawing the attention of the person who least notices you, it's best to continue avoiding the kitchen.
While doing odd jobs with the trainee crew, you multitask, trying to think of a second place to replace the kitchen during your time doing odd jobs.
The result of trying to multitask was that while the trainee crew members were joking and playing around, you cut your hand with the knife you were using. The cut was so deep that your finger kept bleeding under the tap.
Compared to you, who told the trainee crew not to mind, the playful trainee crew followed you around in a flustered manner.
Crew member A: "Wait, I didn't mean to!"
Crewman B: "Is this the time? Hurry up and take her to the village!"
The two people's panicked expressions made it seem as if you hadn't just cut your finger, but been seriously injured by a knife. It hurt, but it was still within your tolerance level.
Rather, it's their panicked state that's most frustrating. For example, they even turned off the stove while cooking and walked over.
When you subconsciously wanted to tell Lu not to pay attention to you, Lu, who usually treated you well, saw your bleeding finger and changed his easygoing attitude, raising his voice to make the panicked crew member A take you to the infirmary.
"What's the point of arguing here? Hurry up and take her to the infirmary for treatment!"
"Yes, yes! I'll lead the way right away!"
In the powerful voices of the two people, no one heard your "actually." Perhaps some did hear it, but they all selectively ignored it.
It feels good to be cared for, but it doesn't feel good to have your feelings drowned out. At least you feel that your injuries are nothing compared to those pirates who are shirtless and covered in scars of all kinds.
Yet this same pirate panicked and became completely flustered over your insignificant wound.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing for you?
-
"Don't go help in the kitchen for now. The cut you made was a bit deep, and it's easy for it to get infected if it gets wet this season."
"That's what Hongo said after bandaging your wound," he said. Before you could even speak, Hongo turned to the crew member A who had brought you and told him about some things to be careful about, asking him to pass on the message that you couldn't help out in the kitchen recently.
"I understand! Don't worry, I'll finish all your work!"
After saying that, the hurried crew member A ran out of the medical room, his voice fading into the distance as he ran away from the shouts of "Keep your voice down!" from his hometown.
Looking at the closed wooden door of the infirmary, you sighed, having lost the will to argue: "It's just a cut on my finger, it's still something I can help with."
When Hongo heard your whisper, he turned around and saw you looking at your bandaged finger with a look of dejection.
Compared to the carefree trainee crew members in the kitchen, Hongo, being a bit more meticulous due to his profession, naturally offers you an option that you can accept.
"If you really want to help, you can come and help me. My work is easier than the kitchen work."
"Because the people on the ship don't come to the infirmary very often, I won't stay here often either. If I just want to find a place to stay, this place is quieter than the kitchen."
Two sentences explained why you'd been spending the last two weeks in the kitchen. The way you looked at Hongo changed; you couldn't find any other word to describe your feelings except admiration.
Hongo, who was being watched, chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head, then changed the subject to something lighter.
"They're very easygoing, but sometimes they must find it difficult to cope, right?"
That's true, but it's not good for an outsider like you to say it. The habitually issued "good guy" card was promptly changed when you considered the identities of the people on the ship.
"Everyone is easy to get along with."
The unexpected answer made Hongo's eyes widen. You looked at him, puzzled, at Hongo's unexpected single syllable.
When their eyes met, Hongo smiled and waved his hand: "I thought you would say something like 'We're all good people,' so I was a little surprised to hear that."
Perhaps fearing you might overthink it, Hongo paused for a few seconds and then added a clarification to what he had just said.
"Of course, I'm not saying this to hear you change your mind and say we're good people."
In your view, Hongo's increasingly talkative reaction seemed more like he was trying to cover something up. Not only you, but Hongo himself realized this. With a helpless sigh, Hongo abandoned his plan to dig a hole for himself.
"Sorry, I was just curious why you said that. Don't take it to heart."
Perhaps it was the friendly atmosphere inherent in the local area that made you hesitate for a moment before explaining why you changed your address.
"It feels like calling everyone 'good people' would be an insult to your pirate identity."
"As for pirates... they'd rather do 'bad things' that will shake the world than be good people, right?"
Upon hearing this, Hongo's expression faltered slightly. As you cautiously observed his reaction to what you had said, he burst into laughter, his hearty laughter echoing throughout the infirmary.
Hongo's reaction makes you uneasy, and your relaxed body subconsciously leans back because of his laughter.
If you could, you'd like to leave this unsettling infirmary. But you can't just leave abruptly; that would seem rude and might anger the infirmary's owner.
Only after the laughter subsided did you cautiously inquire about his feelings.
Did I say something wrong...?
Hongo, still smiling, waved his hand, indicating that you shouldn't take it too seriously.
"No, you're absolutely right. It's precisely because you're so right that I'm laughing like this."
“I was worried that you would think we were good people and would say nice things even if we were bullied. Now I'm relieved, it's good that you didn't think that way.”
Hongo's words successfully switched your roles with his.
How can I describe this feeling? To hear a pirate tell me not to think of him as a good person... it feels so complicated.
Perhaps your expression was too subtle, so Hongo continued on the topic we were just discussing.
"Don't you want to live on the island under the boss's protection? Keep that in mind, it's better than treating someone on the ship as your future refuge."
Even if you're slow on the uptake, you'd understand the meaning behind the local dialect. And now you know why Lyme had been paying extra attention to you.
They're afraid you'll steal their partner's heart! This is a huge misunderstanding on your part!
The growing popularity is urging you to defend yourself.
"No, I didn't think that way!"
In your haste, you even forgot about the disparity in status and power between yourself and Hongo, and abruptly stood up from your chair to explain to Hongo.
This startled Hongo. The smile that was there just a second ago vanished as he reacted with anger and embarrassment, replaced by his gentle persuasion.
"Ah...no, that's not what I meant. Anyway, please calm down, okay? Here, have some water to soothe your throat."
You took the water from the village chief and drank half a cup. The warm water eased your fever and mood, which had risen due to the misunderstanding.
"Sorry, I lost control a bit."
In response to your apology, Hongo offered words of comfort to ease your emotions.
"It's nothing. Compared to you, the guys on the ship are much more troublesome when they get going."
Although you may not have seen what the "noisy" scene Hongo described looks like, you can imagine how chaotic it must be from the scenes of their banquets and meals.
Seeing that you had calmed down, Honjō quickly changed the subject.
"So, what have you thought about what we just discussed?"
Honjo's suggestion couldn't be better for you, who wanted to move to a different place to stay; you had no reason to refuse.
"Yes, I'll come and help. I hope you won't mind that I'm clumsy."
I know you're just politely responding with a smile in your hometown.
"Of course not, it's a good thing to have someone help you."
Hongo probably wanted to say something more, but the sudden opening of the wooden door interrupted your conversation, followed by Hongo's habitual catchphrase: "I told you to be gentle when opening and closing the door—"
The culprit ignored the scolding from the locals and focused his gaze on you, who were frozen in your chair, startled by the sound of the door opening.
"I heard you were injured."
Injured? Lem's words made your brain, which had been slowed down by the sound of the door opening, start working again. It wasn't until you saw Hongo's index finger wrapped up that you understood what Lem meant.
"Oh, it's nothing, I just cut my finger. Thank you for your concern."
As you spoke, you held out your right hand, which bore bandage marks, to Lem, who froze at your gesture. Realizing something, Lem muttered something under his breath, and before you could hear him clearly, he hurried away as he had come, leaving you and Hongo staring at each other in bewilderment.
Although you know that Lem means you no harm, his behavior still puzzles you. And right now, the only person you can talk to about this is Hongo, who is sitting across from you.
Is he angry?
Upon hearing this, Hongo stroked his chin, muttering his analysis thoughtfully.
"Are you angry? Or rather, you're more like annoyed and embarrassed? Don't worry about it, he's not targeting you."
In the end, Hongo, like Rem, whispered a "trouble" that left you puzzled. Even after Hongo explained that you weren't part of the "trouble" he was referring to, something still felt off.
But you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, just like when you discovered that Lyme was paying too much attention to you.
-
After taking you back to your room, Hongo encountered Rem, who had just intruded into his territory, on the deck. Rem seemed to be in a bad mood, and Hongo already knew why.
What else could it be? It can only be you, who made Lem so anxious that he barged into the infirmary.
Thinking of your conversation with him in the infirmary, Hongo stepped forward and patted Lyme on the right shoulder.
"Don't fall for it. She looks young, but she's much more mature than you mentally."
Lyme, who was facing the sea, immediately turned around and tried to defend himself.
"Huh? What are you talking about—"
Compared to Lyme, whose emotions are written all over his face, Hongo's mind conjured up images of you, whose emotions only showed when misunderstood, and the things he had said to you.
People often think Hongo is easy to get along with because of his appearance and way of speaking, but in reality, Hongo is much more aloof than he appears. That's why, if you can have such a good chat with him after only a few meetings, you deserve some pointers from him on your friends.
“Even if she really needed protection, she wouldn’t choose a son. You know what I mean, Lyme?”
To be honest, Hongo still hopes you can survive on the island Shanks protects.
But if the people on the ship insist on attacking you... he won't stop them. Just like you said, he's not a "good guy," but rather the kind of "pirate" you're talking about who's happy to become famous for doing bad things.
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