**East Blue – Two-day voyage back to Marine Branch 153**
**The morning after leaving Cocoyasi**
The patrol cutter sliced through low morning swells with the same tired chug it had used on the way out. The engine coughed every time it hit a larger wave, as if reminding everyone it was old and overworked. Salt spray misted the deck in fine droplets that caught the early sun like tiny diamonds. The sky was clear—endless blue above, deeper blue below—and for the first few hours after casting off from Cocoyasi, no one spoke much.
Usopp spent the first ninety minutes bent over the starboard rail, face pale green, declaring between heaves that he was "dying," "this was a terrible mistake," and "why didn't anyone tell me the sea moves like this?"
Luffy sat cross-legged beside him on the deck, one hand patting Usopp's back—too hard at first, then gentler when Sanji glared from the wheelhouse doorway.
"Food fixes everything," Luffy said brightly, holding out a meat bun Sanji had wrapped in waxed paper before they left.
Usopp lifted his head just long enough to glare.
"If I eat that I will literally die."
Luffy considered this.
"Then maybe later."
He took a bite himself, chewing thoughtfully while Usopp groaned and slumped lower over the rail.
Sanji appeared a minute later with a tin mug of ginger tea and a small plate of dry crackers.
"Drink this slowly," he said, crouching beside Usopp. "And eat the crackers one at a time. No gulping."
Usopp accepted the mug with trembling fingers.
"You're… being nice."
Sanji lit a cigarette and exhaled toward the sea.
"Don't get used to it, long-nose. I just don't want you puking on my deck."
Usopp managed a weak laugh.
"Appreciated."
Zoro leaned against the opposite rail, arms crossed, eyes half-closed.
"If you puke on my swords," he said without opening them, "I'm throwing you in."
Usopp whimpered.
"Noted."
Koby hovered nearby with the ship's small medical kit, flipping through the seasickness section for the third time.
"There's a pressure point here—" he started.
Nami, sitting on a coil of rope, cut him off.
"He'll live. Just let him suffer in peace."
Usopp groaned louder for dramatic effect.
By midday the worst had passed.
Usopp sat with his back against the wheelhouse wall, knees up, color slowly returning to his face. The ginger tea had helped, and the crackers had stayed down. He still looked miserable, but at least he wasn't hanging over the side anymore.
Luffy plopped down beside him again, this time with two more meat buns.
"Feeling better?"
Usopp eyed the buns warily.
"…A little."
Luffy offered one anyway.
Usopp took it—small bite, chewed slowly.
"Thanks."
Luffy grinned.
"See? Food fixes everything."
Usopp snorted.
"You're impossible."
Luffy leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky.
"First time on a boat?"
Usopp nodded.
"First time leaving the village, actually."
He paused.
"Feels weird."
Luffy tilted his head.
"Good weird or bad weird?"
Usopp thought about it.
"Both."
They sat in companionable silence for a while.
The boat rocked gently.
Waves slapped the hull.
Gulls followed overhead, crying for scraps.
Eventually Usopp spoke again—quieter.
"I keep thinking about Kaya. And the village. What if another crew shows up while I'm gone?"
Luffy scratched under his hat.
"Then we'll come back. Or send word. Or punch whoever shows up."
Usopp laughed—small, shaky.
"You make it sound easy."
"It's not easy," Luffy said simply. "But it's worth it."
Usopp looked at him sideways.
"You really believe that."
"Yup."
Usopp stared at the meat bun in his hand.
"I'm still scared."
Luffy nodded.
"Me too. Sometimes."
Usopp blinked.
"You get scared?"
"Sure. When I think about not being strong enough. Not protecting people. Not keeping promises."
He shrugged.
"But I keep going anyway. Because stopping would be worse."
Usopp looked down at the deck.
"I don't know if I can do that."
Luffy leaned closer.
"You already did. Last night. You didn't run. You fought. That's the hard part. The rest is just practice."
Usopp swallowed.
"Thanks."
Luffy grinned.
"Anytime."
The afternoon passed slowly.
The sea stayed calm—low rolling swells, sky cloudless. Sanji cooked lunch on a small portable stove lashed to the deck: rice, grilled fish from Cocoyasi's last catch, tangerine slices on the side. Everyone ate sitting in a loose circle—backs against railings or crates, plates balanced on knees.
Usopp managed half a portion before pushing the rest away.
"Still queasy."
Sanji didn't argue—just took the plate and set it aside for later.
Zoro ate in silence, one eye on the horizon like he expected trouble.
Koby talked quietly with Nami about navigation—asking questions, scribbling notes in his little book.
Luffy ate three servings, then lay flat on his back in the sun, hat over his eyes, snoring softly within minutes.
Usopp watched him for a while.
Then—hesitantly—pulled his slingshot from his belt.
He sighted on a piece of driftwood floating about thirty meters off the port side.
Pulled back.
Fired.
The pellet cracked against the wood—dead center.
The driftwood spun.
Usopp exhaled.
Sanji raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad."
Zoro cracked one eye open.
"Again."
Usopp blinked.
"Huh?"
Zoro jerked his chin toward another piece of debris—farther this time.
"Hit it."
Usopp hesitated—then loaded another pellet.
Aimed.
Fired.
Hit.
Zoro grunted.
"Keep practicing."
Usopp stared at his slingshot.
Then smiled—small, real.
"Yeah… okay."
The sun dipped lower.
By dusk they were all on deck again—sprawled out under the first stars.
No watch rotation tonight; the sea was empty, the course steady.
Luffy sat up suddenly.
"Hey."
Everyone looked at him.
He scratched his head.
"How did everyone end up here? I mean… with me."
Silence for a second.
Then Nami snorted.
"You dragged us."
Luffy laughed.
"Yeah, but… why'd you let me?"
Sanji exhaled smoke toward the stars.
"Needed a place to cook without questions. And… didn't want to see anyone go hungry again."
Zoro shrugged.
"Marines have the biggest bounties on pirate heads. Biggest swordsmen too. Simple."
Koby adjusted his glasses.
"I was a coward before. Thought joining would make me brave. Turns out… having friends makes you brave."
Nami looked on her wrist.
"I wanted to map the whole sea. Safely. Without running alone anymore."
Luffy turned to Usopp.
Usopp hugged his knees.
"My dad always said the sea gives you what you need… even if it's not what you want."
He looked around the circle—at the faces lit by lantern glow.
"I think… maybe I needed this."
Luffy grinned.
"We needed you too."
Usopp ducked his head.
"Yeah, well… don't get used to it."
Everyone laughed—soft, tired, warm.
The boat rocked gently.
Stars wheeled overhead.
And for the first time since they'd all met, it felt like something solid was forming.
Not just a squad.
Something more.
Something that might last.
---
Dawn on the third day.
The silhouette of Marine Branch 153 appeared on the horizon—gray buildings, white flag snapping in the breeze.
Usopp stood at the bow, slingshot over his shoulder, tangerine still in his pocket.
Wind tugged at his bandana.
He looked back once—at Cocoyasi shrinking in the distance.
Then forward—at the base growing larger.
Luffy joined him.
"Ready?"
Usopp took a deep breath.
"No. But… yeah."
Luffy grinned.
"That's the spirit."
The boat slowed.
Docked.
Hina waited on the pier—arms crossed, sunglasses reflecting the sunrise.
She didn't smile.
But her smoke ring was almost approving.
The six of them stepped off together.
Usopp last—hesitating for one heartbeat.
Then he followed.
The East Blue just got a little bigger.
And a little louder.
To be continued…