One Piece: The Deadly

The Thousand Sunny anchored in a bustling port town known for its wide variety of shops and bustling market. The warm breeze brushed against the crew as they disembarked from the ship, eager to take a break and explore. Kikidori found himself excited, not just because of the usual port-side fun, but because every new port seemed to offer a different adventure.

As they walked through the lively town, with its colorful stalls selling everything from exotic fruits to strange trinkets, Kikidori's eyes wandered around, taking in everything with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. However, it wasn't long before something—someone—caught his attention.

A young girl, about Kikidori's age, was sitting on the steps of a small herbal shop. She had bright, flowing hair and wore a simple yet functional outfit. What stood out the most was the confident look in her eyes, as if she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She was surrounded by various medicinal plants, and her hands were carefully tending to some sort of first aid kit.

Kikidori couldn't help but stare. She looked... interesting. And there was something about her that felt warm, like she could make things better just by being around.

"Hey, Luffy!" Kikidori called out, his eyes still locked on the girl. "Who's that?"

Luffy, who had been munching on meat as usual, turned his head, following Kikidori's gaze. His eyes lit up at the sight of the girl, and without a moment's hesitation, he waved his arms in her direction. "Hey! You there! Do you wanna join the crew?"

The girl turned to Luffy with a calm smile, and Kikidori noticed the brief flicker of recognition in her eyes. It was almost like she was expecting this moment.

Without hesitation, she stood up and walked towards them. "My name is Ere'ana. I've been waiting for you guys."

Luffy grinned, stretching his arms as he often did when he was excited. "Yup! I'm Luffy! We're a crew of pirates, and if you want to join us, you're welcome!"

Ere'ana nodded without missing a beat, her eyes shining with determination. "I've always wanted to travel the world. And I'm good with medicine. I can help with any injuries you might have, just like Chopper."

Chopper, who had been walking along beside the crew, perked up at the mention of his name. "You're a doctor too?!" His eyes sparkled. "That's awesome! We could definitely use more help with taking care of everyone!"

Ere'ana smiled at Chopper, her expression softening. "I've been learning healing for a while now, and I've always been interested in helping others. I want to see the world, and I think joining your crew is the perfect way to do that."

Luffy chewed on a bone from his meal and gave a loud thumbs-up. "Great! You're in!"

Kikidori watched the interaction with interest. He felt a strange, exciting energy in his chest, though he couldn't quite place why. There was something about Ere'ana that made his heart beat a little faster.

Ere'ana, noticing Kikidori standing there a little awkwardly, gave him a small wave. "Hi, I'm Ere'ana. What's your name?"

Kikidori blinked, suddenly feeling shy. He hadn't been expecting to talk to her just yet. "Uh, I'm Kikidori. It's nice to meet you," he managed, trying to sound casual, but his voice came out a little higher than he intended.

Ere'ana's smile grew a little wider. "Nice to meet you too, Kikidori." Her tone was soft, yet filled with a certain warmth that Kikidori couldn't help but find comforting. "I'll be here to help out with the crew's health. I'm excited to travel with all of you."

Kikidori nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Ere'ana's words than he initially realized. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked away, trying to hide the feeling that he had no idea how to react to a girl his age talking to him like that.

As the crew finished settling in the town, Ere'ana made sure to chat with Chopper, eagerly learning about his experience as a doctor and offering to assist with some of his medical work. Kikidori followed behind, keeping a little distance but watching her with curiosity. There was something oddly familiar about her, like he had always known her, but he couldn't quite figure out why.

Throughout the day, Kikidori noticed something that he hadn't seen before—whenever Ere'ana looked at him, her gaze lingered for just a second longer than it should. She would smile at him in a way that made his heart skip a beat. And whenever their eyes met, Kikidori couldn't help but feel his chest tighten.

It was all very confusing. He'd never felt this way about anyone before. But there was something comforting about the way Ere'ana made him feel. Maybe... maybe he liked her. A lot.

Later that evening, the crew gathered on the deck of the Sunny, enjoying the sunset and their peaceful evening together. Ere'ana had already started talking with Chopper about herbs and medicines, making herself comfortable among the group.

Luffy leaned over toward Kikidori, who was staring at Ere'ana from a distance. "She's pretty cool, huh?"

Kikidori blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah, she's really nice. And... she's a doctor like Chopper."

Luffy grinned. "You like her, don't you?"

Kikidori's face turned bright red. "What?! No way! I—I don't!"

Luffy only laughed, patting him on the back. "I saw the way you were looking at her. It's okay, Kikidori. You're not the only one. Pirates can fall in love too!"

Kikidori stammered, trying to come up with a response, but he couldn't find the right words. For once, he was speechless, his mind swirling with confusion and excitement. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he could tell one thing for sure—things were going to get a lot more interesting now that Ere'ana was part of the crew.

As the sun set and the stars began to twinkle overhead, Kikidori found himself thinking more and more about Ere'ana. He was sure of one thing—this was only the beginning of something new.

And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of a new adventure that he'd never seen coming.

End of Chapter 20