Conqueror’s Desire

A day after leaving Bluehaven, Blue Horizon sailed peacefully across the vast blue ocean. A gentle breeze filled the sails, carrying them steadily toward Saffron Island. Nami stood on the deck, compass in hand, carefully checking the wind direction and ocean currents.

MC, lounging at the stern, watched her with a lazy expression. "You're always so serious when you work, huh?" he said, stretching his arms.

Nami glanced at him briefly before offering a small smile. "Of course. If I let my guard down, we could get lost at sea. If you want to sail carelessly, you should've stayed on land."

MC raised his hands as if surrendering. "Alright, alright. I won't bother you."

But instead of returning to her work, Nami suddenly walked toward him. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous hint of mischief. "But now, I have a little time to play around."

MC eyed her suspiciously. "Play around?"

Before he could react, Nami sat down beside him, her body so close that he could feel her warmth. With a teasing smile, she leaned her head against his shoulder, pretending to be tired. "I need some rest too, you know," she whispered softly.

MC felt his heartbeat quicken slightly. "You… you're trying to tease me, aren't you?"

Nami chuckled lightly. "Maybe. Or maybe I just feel comfortable next to you?"

MC cleared his throat and turned his gaze toward the sea, trying to ignore the fact that Nami was now dangerously close. "Don't play with fire if you don't want to get burned."

Nami lifted her head slightly, looking at him with a knowing smile. "Who said I'm afraid of getting burned?"

MC swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like he was in more danger than when he fought Arlong. "You're really dangerous…" he muttered.

Nami laughed before finally standing up and returning to the helm. "Alright, enough playing around. We still have a long journey ahead."

MC let out a deep sigh, shaking his head with a small smile. "This journey is going to be more challenging than I thought..."

The Approaching Storm

A few hours later, the once-clear sky turned dark with heavy clouds. The gentle sea breeze shifted into powerful gusts, causing the ship's sails to tremble. Nami quickly took hold of the helm, her expression turning serious.

"There's a storm ahead," she said urgently. "We need to adjust our course slightly to avoid getting caught in the worst of it."

MC immediately stood up, his eyes scanning the horizon. The waves were rising, and distant thunder rumbled ominously.

"Alright, just tell me what to do," he said firmly.

Nami spared him a brief smile, not one of teasing but of complete trust. "Hold onto the sail ropes and be ready to tighten them when I give the signal!"

MC nodded, gripping the ropes tightly.

Even as the storm approached, something inside him told him that as long as they were together, they could face anything—whether it was a storm at sea or a storm in their own hearts.

And maybe, along this journey, he would come to realize that Nami was more than just a traveling companion…