Under the warm afternoon sun, Carina and Nami sat on the deck of their floating cloud construct, surrounded by piles of stolen treasure. Nami's fingers danced across the neat stacks of Berries, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction and disappointment.
"Only 90 million?" she sighed, slumping her shoulders. "That's way less than what we got from Arlong."
Carina leaned back, stretching. "Well, Arlong ran his business for years. Krieg was just a thug burning through his riches." She gave a smirk. "Besides, it's not just about the money. We crushed two big-name pirates in East Blue. That's worth more than treasure."
Nami huffed. "Yeah, yeah. But we still need a lot more if we ever want to reach the Grand Line prepared."
Carina giggled and leaned on Jacob's back, who was sitting beside them. "Guess we'll just have to rob more people, huh, Flame Boy?"
Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. "That's your job, isn't it?"
As the village bustled with excitement, Piiman, Tamanegi, and Ninjin eagerly led Jacob through the familiar streets of Syrup Village. The townspeople stood at their doorsteps, whispering and pointing as Jacob passed. Some were in awe, some skeptical, and others couldn't believe the lying little boy from years ago had become the legendary Fire King.
"Whoa…" Piiman muttered as they stopped in front of Jacob's old house.
The wooden house was small, humble, and slightly rundown. Vines curled around its edges, and the door creaked as Ninjin pushed it open.
Dust covered the furniture inside, but everything was there—the bed, the scattered tools and paint, and even an old pirate flag.
Jacob ran his fingers along the wall, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and distance.
"You never came back, Captain," Tamanegi murmured.
Jacob sighed. "I couldn't. The person who lived here… wasn't me anymore."
The three boys looked at him in confusion, but Nojiko's voice called from outside before they could ask.
"Jacob?"
Jacob turned and stepped outside—only to be greeted by the warm sensation of Nojiko's hand caressing his left arm.
Her touch was gentle, affectionate, and full of quiet understanding. She didn't say anything—she didn't have to. It was just her way of grounding him, reminding him that the present mattered more than the past.
But someone else was watching.
A few feet away, Kaya stood frozen.
Her pale hands clenched into fists, and her ordinarily soft, tired eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene—Jacob standing there, Nojiko's hand on his arm, the quiet intimacy between them.
Something inside her twisted.
For years, she had waited, hoping, dreaming of the day Usopp would return. But now, he wasn't Usopp anymore—he was Jacob. And he had changed in more ways than one.
Kaya bit her lip, a flicker of jealousy and frustration growing in her chest.
She had lost so much already.
She wasn't about to lose him too.
A week had passed since Kaya officially joined the Revenants.
She had been given the Osoʻ Osoʻ no Mi (Revitalize Revitalize Fruit), an ability that allowed her to restore stamina, heal wounds, and enhance vitality. This power suited her once-frail body perfectly. With training, she could even temporarily amplify someone's strength.
And yet, despite her newfound health, despite the adventure she always dreamed of finally coming true…
She wasn't happy.
Because every single day, her jealousy grew.
Jacob—Usopp, the boy she had once adored, the boy who used to tell her grand stories, the boy she thought she would be unique to— was now a different man.
He was Jacob now. He had power, confidence, and a harem of women constantly by his side.
Nami and Nojiko clung to him freely.
Carina teased him with flirty remarks and stolen kisses.
Kuina, though distant, shared quiet moments of understanding with him.
And her?
She felt like an outsider.
Even as she trained, improved, and worked to be helpful—she couldn't shake the feeling that she was too late.
***
Jacob had renovated his childhood home into a spacious, fortified hideout with training grounds, storage rooms, and comfortable living quarters for his allies.
And every single day, Piiman, Tamanegi, and Ninjin came to play.
They worshipped Jacob.
"Captain, show us that fire punches again!" Tamanegi cheered.
"No, no! The super-speed flying! That one's cooler!" Ninjin argued.
Piiman stood in awe, hands clenched into fists. "You're the strongest in the East Blue, Captain! I know it!"
Jacob chuckled, entertaining their requests with ease. The boys idolized him—more than ever before.
But Kaya could only watch, standing just outside the circle of admiration.
It was supposed to be her who understood him best.
It was supposed to be her with whom he shared everything.
Yet, here she was—just another follower.
Just another girl chasing after Jacob.
Her fingers dug into her palm.
She couldn't let it stay this way.
***
On the second week of her journey, Kaya finally made her move.
She had spent hours picking out her best dress, combing her pale blonde hair to perfection, and even applying a light touch of makeup—all for him.
When she saw Jacob training alone, away from everyone, punching through stone, she took a deep breath and approached him.
"Jacob…" Kaya spoke, her voice soft, a slight tremble hidden beneath her confidence.
Jacob turned to her, his brow glistening with sweat, his shirtless torso illuminated by the evening glow. His dark eyes flickered with curiosity. "Kaya? What's up?"
She steeled her nerves and took a step closer.
"You're always training… but do you ever take a break?" she asked, offering him a soft smile. "I thought… maybe you'd want to spend time with me?"
Jacob exhaled, shaking out his fists. "I do take breaks. But I need to get stronger. The Grand Line—"
"I know, I know," Kaya interrupted, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "But… even the strongest warriors need rest."
Jacob paused. He studied her for a moment, then gave a small chuckle.
"…You're not wrong."
Kaya's heart skipped.
She had his attention.
For the next hour, they sat under the moonlight, talking. Jacob was relaxed and casual, and Kaya felt unique for the first time since joining the alliance.
And Jacob didn't pull away when she leaned in closer, letting her hand graze his. He responded.
A small victory.
But it didn't last.
That night, they returned to the hideout for dinner.
The moment Jacob stepped inside, he was immediately met with affection.
Nojiko kissed his cheek.
Nami playfully fed him.
Carina draped herself over him.
Kuina—though less open—smirked at him approvingly.
And Jacob embraced it all without hesitation.
Kaya sat at the table, frozen.
Just hours ago, he had been so responsive to her. But here? He was the same Jacob as always—sharing his affection freely.
Did their moment mean nothing?
She clenched her fork.
It wasn't fair.
A week later, as Kaya sat alone near the shore, Nojiko approached her.
"You know," Nojiko began, arms crossed, "you're trying really hard to get him."
Kaya flinched but didn't respond.
Nojiko sighed and sat beside her. "You don't have to force yourself, you know? Jacob doesn't love people because they throw themselves at him. He… cares. That's how he is."
Kaya bit her lip. "But… I don't want to be left behind."
Nojiko studied her for a moment before giving a soft chuckle. "I get it. But you need to stop comparing yourself. We've all been with him for a while now. You're still new."
Kaya lowered her gaze. She wanted to believe Nojiko's words.
She really did.
But her jealousy refused to fade whenever she saw Jacob effortlessly affectionately with the others.
***
Mad Treasure's fist tightened around the bounty poster of the so-called Fire King. The paper was crumpled and torn at the edges as if his rage alone was burning through it.
His left cheek still ached, the flesh burned and twisted from the fire that had punched through him like a meteor.
Damn that madman.
The den den mushi, on the other hand, croaked with static.
"You said he stole what?" the voice on the other end finally spoke.
"All of it." Mad Treasure growled. "Every single Devil Fruit meant for Joker's deal. The Fire King and his women—" he spat the word with disgust—"wiped out my crew and torched the entire operation before vanishing like a ghost."
Silence.
Then, the voice chuckled. Soft, amused, almost dismissive.
"…Interesting."
Mad Treasure's veins throbbed. What part of this was interesting?!
"Is that all you have to say?!" he snapped. "I lost everything. He's a lunatic! Not even my underground bounty hunters can predict his movements! Do you know how many times we've tried to track him? Do you?"
More silence.
Then, finally, the voice spoke again.
"…Keep looking for the Pure Gold."
Mad Treasure stiffened.
"You're ignoring the Fire King?!"
Another chuckle.
"I never ignore threats. But I'm more interested in something that lasts forever…"
The line cut.
Mad Treasure slammed the den mushi down.
His teeth gnashed together in fury.
But beneath that rage…
A seed of unease bloomed in his chest.
That man—the one behind the call—was not someone you wanted attention from.