The Grand Line was everything the rumors claimed—chaotic seas, shifting weather, and islands that felt like they belonged in a dream. After two days of near-death whirlpools and upside-down waves, the Going Merry finally approached Whiskey Peak, a town that looked calm… too calm.
But before they docked—
Vihaan stretched and cracked his knuckles as he stepped out onto the deck in the early morning breeze, shirtless, his silver chain glinting against his well-defined chest. He yawned and looked around the ship.
Then he grinned.
"I feel… mischievous today."
Spotting "Miss Wednesday" sweeping nearby in an old cloak, Vihaan summoned a mirror orb from his palm, tossed it up, and caught it.
"You know," he said, walking over, "if you're going to be our maid, you should look the part."
Vivi blinked. "W-What?"
In a flash, a small mirror portal opened, and out floated a frilly, overly revealing maid outfit Vihaan had "found" in the Cocoyashi Marine storeroom. Complete with knee-high socks.
Her jaw dropped. "I am not wearing that!"
Vihaan, leaning casually on the mast, just smirked. "You said you were Miss Wednesday, not Princess of Alabasta, right? So unless you want me to start calling you that…"
Vivi glared at him, cheeks burning red. But five minutes later, there she was—mopping the deck in the "official maid uniform," grumbling under her breath.
Vihaan, lying lazily on a beach chair with sunglasses, sipped juice and watched her mop the boards in front of him.
"You missed a spot," he teased.
"You're the devil," she muttered.
"I prefer devilishly charming."
From behind the helm, Nami spotted the scene—and her eyebrow twitched.
"Oh? So he likes skirts now?"
She strutted up beside him and dropped her foot onto his chair, leaning forward with a sly smile. "Need anything else, Captain Tease?"
Vihaan raised his sunglasses. "Is that jealousy, Miss Navigator?"
"Of her? Never," Nami replied, before sitting on his lap. "But if you want a show, let me give you something worth watching."
Vihaan blinked as Nami tucked his hair back and leaned dangerously close.
Vivi dropped the mop with a clang. "H-Hey! What happened to professionalism?!"
"Oh relax," Nami said sweetly. "I'm just distracting him so he doesn't make you polish the anchor next."
Vihaan sipped his drink again. "I'm just enjoying the entertainment."
By afternoon, the crew docked at Whiskey Peak. The town greeted them with music and cheers—an odd welcome for pirates.
"Either they love us," Zoro muttered, "or they're hiding something."
"They have food," Luffy said. "I'm going."
Vivi stuck beside Vihaan, now wearing her old cloak again, whispering, "You're pushing your luck."
Vihaan grinned. "You could've said no to the job."
"I did. You ignored me."
"Exactly."
But even through the flirting and mischief, Vihaan's eyes scanned the town with quiet precision.
Something didn't feel right.
And beneath her smile, Vivi knew this too—because Whiskey Peak was Baroque Works territory.
And her days as "Miss Wednesday" were almost up.
The people of Whiskey Peak welcomed the Straw Hat Pirates with open arms, cheerful music, and tables overflowing with food and sake. Luffy, unsurprisingly, was already halfway through a mountain of meat. Usopp boasted about slaying sea monsters while guzzling drink after drink. Sanji was busy swooning over local women.
Zoro, however, had his hand on his sword the entire time, eyes scanning the too-friendly crowd.
But amid the festivities, Vihaan sat on the edge of a stone fountain, a quiet corner away from the clamor, Nami beside him, her legs crossed and a mug of mild wine in her hand. The flickering lanterns above lit her auburn hair in gold streaks.
"You're not drinking?" Nami asked, tilting her head.
Vihaan smiled, his gaze calm. "Nope."
"No women either? I thought the great flirt of the East Blue would be charming half this town by now."
He chuckled softly. "Why chase random roses when I already have a rare tangerine sitting beside me?"
Nami raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously comparing me to a fruit?"
Vihaan leaned closer, the smile fading into something more sincere. "I don't want to go after every passing spark… just the rare ones. Priceless princesses."
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden tenderness.
"Like you."
And before she could retort, Vihaan kissed her gently. No dramatics. Just warmth—quiet and true under the soft glow of the Whiskey Peak lanterns.
For once, Nami didn't push him away.
She didn't need to.
The sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows from the towering cactus-shaped cliffs of Whiskey Peak. The party showed no signs of slowing down—but half the Straw Hat crew did.
Luffy was slumped over a pile of empty plates, snoring with meat still in his mouth. Usopp had tried to outdrink a group of locals and lost miserably. Sanji, face buried between two empty wine jugs and lipstick marks on his collar, lay knocked out near the banquet table.
But not everyone had let their guard down.
Zoro stood with his arms crossed on a rooftop, watching the townspeople dance below. His eye twitched every time someone smiled too wide or refilled a mug too quickly.
Down on the outskirts, near the edge of the town, Vihaan and Nami strolled together under the stars. The breeze was cool, the night quiet—yet something still felt off.
"They're too kind," Vihaan said, glancing back at the center of town.
"I noticed," Nami replied. "People who give you food and drink like this usually want something worse than your money."
Vihaan tapped his foot once. A tiny flicker shimmered—one of his hidden mirror shards he'd planted earlier lit up in his mind.
"Zoro's not the only one watching."
Nami folded her arms. "We're being surrounded, aren't we?"
"Slowly," Vihaan nodded. "But they've drugged everyone already. It's just you, me, and Zoro still standing."
"Well," Nami smirked, "guess we're the lucky ones."
Just then, a soft whistle echoed from the rooftop. Zoro's silhouette appeared in the moonlight, blade drawn.
"We've got company," he called. "A lot of it."
From the alleys and shadows, dozens of Baroque Works agents began emerging, daggers drawn, grins cold and merciless.
Nami tensed. "Guess the honeymoon's over."
Vihaan cracked his knuckles, summoning a mirror kunai into each hand. "Let's show them what a bad decision this was."
As the agents closed in under the cloak of night, the three Straw Hats stood their ground—calm, deadly, and ready.
The real party was about to begin.