Kaya's Mansion, Syrup Village…
Cough, cough—
"Who… Who are you?"
Kaya looked toward the window in surprise, coughing lightly as she spoke. The sudden breeze from the open window had startled her.
She had lived in Syrup Village her entire life and was certain: these two weren't from around here.
Beside her, Nami eyed the delicate girl warily. Kaya's pale complexion and fragile appearance made her look as if she could faint at the slightest gust of wind.
She doesn't look like someone who could ever be a doctor... does she?
"I'm Ace. A pirate. This is Nami, my navigator."
Pfft—!
Nami nearly choked on her own breath.
Sure, saying that kind of thing on a merchant ship might pass, but barging into a sick girl's room and blurting out you're a pirate? Wasn't that just insane?!
To Nami's utter disbelief, Kaya didn't scream or panic. Instead, she smiled—warmly.
"Are you here because you need help, Pirate-san? If it's money you're after… I do have a little."
"Wait, what? Did you even hear what he just said?! He's a pirate! Aren't you scared?" Nami gawked at her.
"There are good pirates and bad ones, right? Pirate-san here doesn't look like a bad person at all," Kaya giggled gently, covering her mouth.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Kaya—who had always been frail and often prone to moodiness—felt an odd comfort in Ace's presence.
What she didn't realize… was that this warmth was just a subtle side effect of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, instinctively guided by his unparalleled comprehension.
"..."
Nami went quiet.
In her world, pirates were monsters—filth.
Arlong's crew.
The countless scum she had stolen from over the years.
All the same.
But this guy…
She glanced over at Ace, her expression growing complex.
"We're not here for money," Ace said, smiling down at the fragile girl.
"Then, Pirate-san—"
"Just Ace."
He gently cut her off with a soft smile.
"My apologies, then. Please call me Kaya." She coughed softly before continuing. "So, Ace… Why are you here?"
"I have a special ability. I can see glimpses of the future." Ace's tone turned tender. "And in that future… you're my destined ship's doctor, Kaya."
He looked at her with quiet compassion.
Born weak, now orphaned, Kaya had been left alone in her room to recover. At this point in time, her parents had only just been killed by Kuro. Usopp had yet to start spinning his tall tales by her bedside.
She was at her loneliest.
"Eh?!" Kaya froze in disbelief.
Nami, meanwhile, just stared at Ace with narrowed eyes.
Was this guy serious, or just a smooth liar?
But Kaya clearly hadn't met him before. So how had he found her in this remote village, of all places?
Maybe he really did have powers...
"Destined navigator…" Nami's thoughts began to drift.
"Ace, you must be joking. Just look at me—getting out of bed is a luxury. How could I ever be a ship's doctor? I've only read a few medical books… I don't really know how to treat anything."
Kaya looked down at her frail frame, offering Ace a self-deprecating smile.
"We'll talk about that later. First, let me show you something else."
Ace stepped forward and pulled a small wooden stick from his pocket.
"Watch closely, Kaya."
Fwoosh!
With a snap of his fingers, Ace's thumb and forefinger burst into flame.
The stick lit instantly.
"Amazing! Ace, doesn't that hurt?" Kaya gasped, worried.
"I told you—it's a superpower. Now, blow on it."
Ace jumped lightly from the window ledge and stepped to her side, smiling.
"Me? Um… Alright, pardon me."
Fuuu—!
The flames vanished with her breath.
In their place bloomed a vibrant rose.
At the heart of that rose… a flickering flame, steady and eternal.
"Dark days don't last forever. I want you to smile again, Kaya."
Ace offered her the rose with a gentle warmth that radiated like sunlight.
To make a little trick like this was nothing for someone with unparalleled comprehension, but that flame nestled in the rose's heart… that had taken real effort.
It was meant for Kuro.
"Th-thank you… Ace…"
Kaya took the rose with trembling hands, eyes shimmering as she tried to hold back tears.
Then, the words came.
Her memories of her parents.
Her longing for the world outside her window.
She poured it all out.
Ace said nothing. Just smiled and listened quietly.
Nami, off to the side, couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl.
And—she shot Ace a glare.
This guy sure knows how to win over the ladies.
In the days that followed, Ace visited Kaya's room daily.
He'd use his powers to show her little magic tricks, tell her stories of the sea—
And Kaya's smile began to return, little by little.
But one day, whether by fate or intention…
Kuro discovered their presence.
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TL/N:
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