Kaya snuck a glance at Reno, her cheeks tinged pink.
So Nami and Makino-oneechan had already been…
What a wicked big brother.
"Nami, what was that you said?" Reno asked with a teasing grin.
With the Healing Fruit in his arsenal, he was confident he could send Nami soaring to the heavens—again.
Nami stuck out her tongue and ducked behind Makino for cover. "I give up, I give up!"
She might love to trade snark with Reno, but she knew when not to push her luck.
Her poor body needed at least two days of rest.
Seeing her surrender, Reno raised an eyebrow, then cheerfully led his crew of beautiful women to dinner.
...
Later that night, in his room—
It was time to claim his reward.
As expected, after successfully recruiting Kaya, the system chimed in.
"Receive reward."
[Congratulations, Host has received the Logia-type Devil Fruit: Weather-Weather Fruit]
A brilliant white flash.
A dazzling fruit with swirling, multicolored patterns materialized before him.
Reno stared at it, heart racing.
Why so excited?
Because weather wasn't a single element.
It encompassed wind, rain, thunder, lightning, clouds, snow, mist—even frost.
In short, whoever ate this fruit could wield multiple elemental forces simultaneously.
Monet's Snow-Snow Fruit?
✓
The infamous Rumble-Rumble Fruit, said to be the strongest Logia?
✓
The Wind-Wind Fruit rumored to belong to Dragon of the Revolutionary Army?
✓
All included.
This was broken-tier.
Reno took a deep breath to steady himself.
There was no doubt who this fruit belonged to—Nami.
She was already a genius navigator.
With this fruit? She'd become a walking storm goddess.
Besides… their bickering was just their own special way of flirting.
Who said flirting had to involve cuddles and kisses?
He had a special soft spot for Nami.
And the best part?
He could share the abilities.
Absolutely delicious.
Grinning, he stashed the Weather Fruit away, already looking forward to surprising her with it.
...
Several days later.
Inside the mansion, Kaya looked at the trio bound in ropes—Jango, Sam, and Buchi—and finally understood why Reno had insisted they stick around a few extra days.
The three thugs writhed desperately, faces filled with panic.
A few days earlier, they'd received word from Kuro that the plan was progressing smoothly.
Everything was under control.
They just needed to be ready for the final act.
But now?
No contact.
They came to check—and got steamrolled the moment they showed up.
"Reno-nii… who are they?" Kaya asked, a little alarmed.
Reno took a slow sip of tea and replied, almost lazily, "Kuro's men. Core members of the Black Cat Pirates."
Kaya's expression tensed.
Reno continued, "His plan was to have them raid the village while hypnotizing you into signing a will that gave him everything."
"Oh—and that one's the hypnotist." He pointed at Jango.
"You bastard! Where's Captain Kuro?! What did you do to him?!" Jango shouted.
Nami walked up and kicked him square in the ribs.
"Tied up and still mouthing off?!"
Reno waved his hand casually. "What do you think I did? I sent him off."
Then, with a smirk: "Honestly, Kuro was such an idiot."
"If it were me, I'd've won Kaya's heart, married her, and gotten everything fair and square."
"Would've been the legal way to get the girl and the gold."
Kaya blushed, eyes downcast.
Still… her heart fluttered.
Please say more, Reno-nii.
"Hah!" Jango sneered. "You? Defeat the Captain? Please."
"In all of East Blue, I could name the men strong enough to beat Kuro—and you aren't one of them."
Reno yawned.
Enough talk.
He used instant teleportation to haul all three pirates off to a distant island—where Kuro's shattered remains were still baking under the sun.
They wanted to see him, right?
Now they could be reunited.
A local predator even left behind two bones. How thoughtful.
When Reno returned to the mansion, the girls instantly knew it was over.
As for the trio's fate?
They didn't ask.
They didn't care.
"Alright, my lovely crewmates," Reno clapped his hands with a bright smile, "the villains have been punished. Time to set sail for our next destination!"
Kaya jumped up, eyes shining. "Yes! I can finally go out to sea!"
A dream she'd carried for over a decade—finally coming true.
"Thank you, Reno-nii." She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Let's go!" Nami called cheerfully.
Oddly enough, despite all their teasing quarrels, life with Reno felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Am I starting to enjoy this?
Makino smiled gently. "Seems I joined a very special pirate crew."
"And a very special captain."
As the group stepped out the mansion doors, a familiar voice called out.
"...Kaya?! Are you leaving Syrup Village?!"
It was Usopp.
He ran up, clearly flustered.
Kaya turned toward Reno, then nodded. "Yes, Usopp. I'm going to sea with Reno-nii."
"I want to see the world. I may not return for a while."
Usopp lowered his head, clearly disheartened.
But after a moment, he looked up again, eyes full of resolve.
"Can I join your crew?!"
Reno: "..."
Nope.
Just as he was about to decline, something flickered in the distance.
Reno's eyes narrowed, a knowing smirk playing at his lips.
"Usopp, I don't think my crew's the right fit for you."
"But the crew that's right for you?"
He pointed down the road.
"They're already here."