Sailing the open seas could be… dull.
Thankfully, Reno had Nami and Makino to keep him entertained.
Some days he'd trade playful jabs with Nami, riling her up until she exploded.
Other days, he'd tease the more soft-hearted Makino just enough to leave her flustered, then stroll off with a satisfied grin.
These small daily moments brought Reno no small amount of joy.
Of course, the most important part of each day was still their "study sessions" on navigation techniques.
Once Nami and Makino grew closer, Reno would invite both at once—
equitable teaching time for all.
There were even a few occasions when they got so caught up in the lessons, the ship drifted off course and lost several hours of travel time.
"Keep it up, Reno! At this speed, we'll reach Syrup Village tomorrow. You'll finally get to meet that precious little ship doctor you've been dreaming about."
Lounging under a parasol, Nami sipped fruit juice and teased him without mercy.
After spending so much time together, she couldn't help but wonder—
How did Reno know exactly where all the pretty girls were?
And not just their locations—he could even name them.
Whether it was Makino in Foosha Village or Kaya in Syrup Village, he always knew in advance.
When asked, Reno gave her some ridiculous excuse.
A sixth sense for beauty.
Distance didn't matter.
As if anyone would believe that.
When he deliberately avoided the topic, Nami had no choice but to drop it—for now.
Makino stepped out from below deck, towel in hand, and gently dabbed the sweat off Reno's forehead.
"You're the best, Makino," Reno said with a straight face as he continued to steer.
Then, as a reward, he leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
A soft blush spread across Makino's face.
"I'll go get lunch started," she said softly. "Is there anything specific you'd like?"
"I'll eat anything you make," Reno answered sincerely.
Makino turned even redder.
It was a perfectly normal question…
So why did it feel like he was flirting?
"Nami, you want anything?"
"I'm good with whatever," she said, waving a hand casually.
Makino nodded and returned to the galley.
Once she was gone, Reno returned his full attention to steering the ship.
Beyond the flirting, Reno had been using the long voyage to test his recently acquired skill: Teleportation.
When they passed by uninhabited islands, he would let Nami take the wheel for a bit.
Then—poof—he'd vanish.
With a single thought, he could instantly appear on any island within his perception range.
Compared to techniques like Shave, it wasn't even close.
Even more surprising, Reno discovered that as long as he kept the weight within a certain limit, he could bring people with him.
Teleporting two girls at once? No problem.
Moving the entire ship? Not happening.
On one island, he even left behind a spatial anchor.
After sailing far away, he activated the skill—and instantly returned to the marked spot.
After repeated trials, Reno came to one conclusion:
He was now officially the fastest man alive.
However fast his thoughts were—
that's how fast he could move.
And paired with the Healing Fruit?
Practically unkillable.
Filled with anticipation for the future, Reno quickened their pace.
…
…
Syrup Village, tucked away in a remote corner of the East Blue.
Because there wasn't much of value nearby, it rarely attracted the attention of pirates.
That morning, just as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon…
"Looks like it's going to be another beautiful day~"
A lanky teenager with a big nose stretched lazily under the sky.
Wearing a yellowish-brown tank top, Usopp yawned loudly.
"Hmm… Which pirate crew should I warn the village about today?"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully, then smiled as inspiration struck.
Moments later, his voice echoed across the entire village:
"Bad news, everyone! The Silver Wolf Pirates are here—for real this time!!"
"Hurry! Get up! They're coming!!"
"If you don't run now, it'll be too late!!"
His voice was legendary—
from the village entrance to its farthest edge, every home heard it loud and clear.
"That damn brat—can't he take a day off?!"
"Seriously, yelling every single morning… Isn't he tired?!"
"Usopp! You silver-tongued little—!!"
Grumbling villagers woke up grumpily, not wanting to leave the warmth of their beds, muttering curses under their breath.
A few homes nearest to the noise opened their doors to shout personalized greetings.
The insults were as colorful as they were creative.
After nearly ten minutes of back-and-forth, both sides finally quieted down.
Outside, Usopp laughed to himself, quite pleased.
But then his smile faded. He stared off at the sea, his heart heavy with longing.
If only real pirates would actually show up.
Then he could protect the village—save everyone—and become a true hero.
As he daydreamed, his eyes drifted toward the horizon—
And froze.
There was a ship.
A small one, heading straight for Syrup Village.
"A… pirate ship?!" Usopp's eyes widened.
With his sharp eyesight, he could clearly see the deck.
One man. Two women. Laughing. Touching. Flirting.
That was it—no crew. No extra sails.
His excitement quickly deflated.
The ship looked like a pirate vessel, but the crew?
Didn't look like pirates at all.
Still, Usopp walked down to the shore to greet them.
Of course, it wasn't because he wanted to brag to strangers and earn their admiration—
No, no. He was just friendly.
As the ship pulled closer, Reno spotted the lone figure waiting on shore.
Usopp—the Straw Hat crew's sharpshooter.
There was an old saying in the world of pirates:
Luffy excels when the odds are even. Zoro shines when the odds are against him.
But in a hopeless situation? Trust Usopp.
That was the man standing in front of them.
Not that Reno cared.
After docking, he disembarked with Nami and Makino at his sides, setting foot on the sleepy little island.