On the high mountain, under a circus-like tent.
Pirates bustled back and forth, carrying supplies needed for the feast, a sea of moving heads.
Sakura and Robin sat in the middle as guests, surrounded by roaring cheers and sounds of revelry!
The air was filled with laughter of joy and happiness, the melody of dance music, and the fragrance of fine wine.
"Eat all you want, the ingredients are plenty! Back on the Oro Jackson, aside from the three captains, you were the biggest eater!"
Buggy waved a wooden tankard, behind him were several giant sea beasts just caught by the Buggy Pirates from the ocean.
"Hahaha, then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Picking up a plate of sea beast meat soaked in special sauce and fried until golden, Sakura dug in heartily.
"What's wrong? This welcome party is for you, eat more!"
Buggy bit into a steak and tore off a chunk, seeing Robin nearby, he smiled and urged her to join.
Robin nodded at Buggy with a smile and began tasting the meat in small bites.
"Ah! Refreshing!"
Sakura threw her head back and downed two entire pints of beer in one go, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Then she went over to Buggy and slapped him heartily on the shoulder.
"Didn't expect this, you kid, you're something else... you've even become the captain of a pirate crew."
Although they were on rugged, stony mountainous terrain, nearly a hundred heads were gathered in the camp square before them.
With the Buggy Pirates' current scale, they were already a considerable force in the East Blue.
"Kah kah kah, this is a team I can be proud of!"
Buggy raised his tankard and clinked it hard against Sakura's, two drunken red flushes appearing on his painted face.
Then he pulled his crew members over and introduced them to Sakura.
"This is my first mate, Mohji, the best beast tamer in all the East Blue!"
The man wearing animal skins and holding a whip nodded restrainedly at Sakura.
"And this is Cabaji, my combat commander. Underestimate him and you might get taken down, you know~"
Buggy walked over to a man with an extremely long scarf and patted his chest.
Finally, he raised his tankard and returned to Sakura, his smile growing even wider.
"Look, I have so many excellent crew members now!
'Haruno Sakura, today, I will beat you on the drinking grounds!"'
Buggy put one foot on a barrel and shouted to the entire pirate crew.
"Men, help your captain drink her under the table! Ahahahaha!"
"Whoa!"
The pirates, who had been eating steaks, holding tankards, and performing tricks, all stopped their actions upon hearing Buggy's words, raising their fists and responding loudly.
"Oh ho, getting full of yourself, aren't you, Buggy!"
Sakura raised an eyebrow, a dashing smile spreading across her face.
'Come to think of it, this was always his personality. Even though Uncle Rayleigh scolded him many times, it seems he hasn't changed at all.'
'But that's how it should be! As pirates, they shouldn't care about others' opinions.'
'Reckless and free, roaming the seas, living true to themselves more than anyone else.'
"Bring it on! Today, you are the challengers!"
Sakura slammed her wooden cup onto the table. Robin, watching with interest beside her, refilled it with alcohol.
"Come on, who's first!"
The girl's aura gradually rose. Buggy suddenly felt a chill in his heart and took a step back, shielding himself with his subordinates.
"I'll go!"
The pirate who had previously performed the sword-swallowing trick mustered his courage and charged forward.
But in less than two rounds, he fell to the ground, his eyes spinning in circles.
"Next!"
Sakura raised her glass high, issuing an invitation to the pirates.
"Idiots, don't go one by one! Take turns wearing her down, don't give her a chance to catch her breath!"
Buggy, lurking on the outskirts of the crowd, sneakily directed his crew like a patient hunter.
Sakura remained silent, only clinking glasses.
At first, the unfamiliar crowd had to find an excuse to toast with her, but it developed to the point where they just raised their glasses and chugged.
Laughter and din swallowed the pirates, but people fell one after another.
She didn't know how long they had been drinking, but when Sakura looked around, she found there wasn't a single person left standing.
The members of the Buggy Pirates were lying all over the ground, snoring rising and falling.
"Is that all?"
Standing up, Sakura swayed a little, but Robin beside her promptly used her ability to support her.
"Finally!"
Seeing Sakura show signs of fatigue, Buggy, who had been observing on the edges, made his move.
He planted his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky with a triumphant laugh.
"Don't blame me for being despicable. If you admit defeat now, I'll let you off and allow you to drink juice at the kids' table!"
Carrying a huge barrel of alcohol to Sakura, Buggy's face was contorted with unrestrained joy.
Then he saw Sakura, who had seemed drunk just moments ago, straighten up as if nothing was wrong.
"Why!"
His mouth agape, Buggy's eyes bulged out of their sockets.
"Life Return, Buggy. Haven't you seen Captain Roger and the others use it?"
The pink-haired girl smiled charmingly, but her smile looked like that of a demon to Buggy.
"Um, well, I suddenly came down with a disease today where drinking alcohol will kill me."
Cold sweat covered Buggy's entire face, his eyes shifting guiltily to the side.
His feet, capable of splitting apart, detached and began sneakily retreating backwards.
"You can't run, Buggy!"
A hand dyed black with Armament Haki grabbed Buggy, pressing his already escaped feet back into place.
"It's just drinking! Do you have to use Haki?!"
His shoulder hurting, Buggy bared his shark teeth and roared at Sakura.
"Hahaha, if you're weak, train more!"
Sakura didn't care about the details. She directly pried open the barrel lid and shoved it against Buggy's mouth.
Half an hour later, Buggy, his face pale green, lay on the ground foaming at the mouth.
"Whew, that felt good!"
Sakura wiped the slightly alcoholic sweat from her forehead, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
"It seems the party is over. Leviathan and I will go rest first."
Seeing Sakura acting as if nothing happened, Robin waved to the Night Sparrow circling in the sky and headed towards the port.
"Okay, I'll wait here for them to wake up before finding you."
Sakura walked to the campfire and sat down cross-legged, grabbing some unfinished meatballs and stuffing them into her mouth.
After Robin left, the entire camp gradually quieted down. The moon hung high in the night sky, its soft light shining down, illuminating the occasional sleep-talking.
"I never expected you, the loneliest one on the ship, to also find companions."
A groggy voice sounded. Buggy, who should have been passed out drunk, crawled up and came to the campfire for warmth.
"Robin is a friend along the way. If you're talking about partners, that's another one. I'll let you meet her sometime."
Sakura casually took a cup from nearby, filled it with liquid, and placed it in front of Buggy.
'Gulp, how is there still more? Is this never-ending?'
Buggy's eyebrow twitched, but as Sakura clinked her cup against his, he could only smile wryly and down it with her.
Only after it poured into his mouth did he realize the cup contained only warm water.
"Tch, you've changed!" Buggy sighed.
Back on the ship, she seemed to get along with everyone, but there was always a thick layer around her, as if she was from a different world than the rest of them.
Now, meeting again, that barrier seemed to have disappeared, and she appeared more... vibrant.
"Buggy, you are as sharp as ever."
Sakura poured herself a drink, her emerald pupils reflecting the dancing flames.
This old friend who always seemed careless was actually more sensitive than anyone.
Whether it was sensing Captain Roger's thoughts back then and voluntarily giving up his own dream, or now deducing the changes in her from their brief reunion.
"Hmph, what's the use of that."
Muttering, Buggy leaned back and lay on the ground.
"Oh, right, I met Shanks in the North Blue."
"Let me tell you, that guy has a daughter!"
Sakura's eyes sparkled, leaning close to Buggy as if sharing gossip.
"Who wants to know about that guy! Besides, it's all his fault I ended up like this! I won't forgive him!"
Mentioning the deepest bond in his heart, Buggy sat up agitatedly, panting heavily.
"Oh ho, is that so~"
Sakura's face was full of mockery, her beautiful eyes curved into crescents.
"You can lie to your buddies, but don't lie to yourself, you know~"
"Haruno Sakura, you damn..."
"Ahahahaha!"