If you believe Sanji, then you might as well believe in ghosts.
Sure enough, the "precious" book Sandy gave him didn't even have time to warm up in Sanji's hands before it was confiscated by Nami.
That night, inside Nami's room, both she and Vivi were studying the so-called "story of the little fish and the cat" that Sandy had mentioned earlier.
Vivi, as a princess, had never seen anything like it in her life—and Nami wasn't much better.
For a moment, both girls stared at the pages, their faces burning red.
After a while, Nami quietly spat and muttered, "That damn Sandy… so this is what they were reading today? Little fish and cat, my ass!"
Vivi's face was flushed as she fanned her cheeks. "Nami, maybe we shouldn't read anymore… I really didn't think people like Ximen Qing could exist in this world. Truly unbelievable…"
Nami sighed. "Pan Jinlian isn't much better…"
Then, as if struck by lightning, she remembered that day she and Sandy had…
The thought made her cheeks even redder.
She realized she actually missed that feeling—and that scared her more than anything.
But Nami wasn't about to let Vivi notice anything.
She quickly shut the book and shoved it under the bed before changing the topic to harmless girl talk.
Meanwhile, Sandy was standing watch that night, taking Zoro's place for once.
After all, even Zoro couldn't guard the ship every single night.
Listening to Luffy's snoring and weird sleep-talk from inside the cabin, Sandy sighed.
Good thing I didn't sleep with them. Who could handle that noise?
As he looked up at the sparse stars, his mind drifted back to his own journey.
It had already been over a year since he'd somehow ended up in this world.
Back then, before setting sail, he had honestly believed he was the "main character"—the chosen one, the center of fate.
He wanted to become a King of the Seas. Wasn't that what every transmigrated protagonist aimed for?
And yet, here he was—barely past the first chapter of his story and already being scolded left and right.
When did I become the bad guy?
Just because he'd had a moment with someone, did that mean he had to marry them and take care of them forever? Shouldn't both people want that kind of thing first?
Wishful thinking…
And who was Nami, really?
She wasn't some damsel in distress. She dreamed of mapping the entire world with her own hands.
She had her own strength, her own judgment, her own desires—and above all, she valued freedom more than anything.
Forget it, Sandy thought. Let people say what they want. I'll just keep drifting as I please.
The next day, after a long voyage, the Going Merry finally reached a supply island.
They still had quite a distance to travel before actually reaching Alabasta—and yes, somehow, the coast was still desert.
(Why the desert near the coast? Don't ask me—ask Oda! Even the author's confused!)
As soon as the ship docked, Luffy was already yelling, "Let's go eat!"
Sandy grinned. "Luffy, Zoro, how about I treat you guys today? I'm tired of ship food."
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Really?!"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "With your intelligence, could I possibly trick you?"
He turned to the others. "Sanji, Usopp, you guys coming?"
Sanji waved him off. "I'll pass. Gonna grab some ingredients with Chopper."
Usopp adjusted his goggles. "I'm going shopping too—need to restock and make a new weapon for Nami."
Sandy grinned. "Genius! Just remember to ask Nami for more money. Make it good."
Before Usopp could brag, Sandy jogged over to Nami and asked with a grin, "Hey, Nami, can I get some money for food?"
Both Nami and Vivi blushed slightly as they looked at him, but Nami still handed him 250 Belly.
Seeing Sandy's confused expression, Nami smirked. "What? Too much? Then give it back."
Sandy coughed. "No, no, you're so generous…"
"Do you still want it or not?"
"Yes! Of course I do!" Sandy sighed inwardly. What the hell can I even buy with 250 Belly? A bowl of plain rice and a side of leftover soup?
Still, he took the money and led Zoro and Luffy off the ship.
On the way, Zoro asked with a smirk, "So, Sandy, if you're treating us, that means Nami gave you a lot of money, huh?"
Luffy was already drooling. "I wanna eat lots and lots of meat! Hehehe…"
"Luffy, stop drooling," Sandy said flatly. Then to Zoro, "Yeah, she gave me a ton. Enough for one meal."
Zoro chuckled. "Guess Nami's being nice to you lately. I'll drink later to celebrate."
Sandy's eyebrow twitched. He had the sudden urge to hit Zoro with his sandal.
You of all people should know Nami's "niceness" always comes with interest!
Just as they reached the restaurant, Sandy suddenly stopped. He could sense it—a strong presence nearby.
Zoro noticed. "What's wrong?"
Sandy shook his head. "Nothing. Let's eat first."
Before he could say another word, Luffy had already charged into the restaurant, snatched a seat, and started stuffing food into his mouth.
At the bar, a man was lying face-down. On his back was a large Whitebeard symbol.
Sandy's eyes widened. He instantly recognized him.
Portgas D. Ace—Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates… and Luffy's sworn brother.
At that moment, Ace seemed to have dozed off mid-meal, making the locals panic.
They thought he'd been poisoned in the desert.
Amid the commotion, Luffy suddenly froze, then shouted in shock, "Ace!!"
The man turned, blinking sleepily, then smiled. "Luffy!!"
But what happened next was… anticlimactic.
No dramatic running, no emotional slow-motion hug—just the two of them yelling across the room like idiots.
Sandy sighed. "So much for a heartfelt reunion."
...
📢 Important Update for All Readers!
As promised, I've uploaded the full fanfic on Patreon — completely FREE to read!
You can now join my Patreon and enjoy all the chapters without any paywall.
🔗 Patreon: patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
✨ Creator:Shadow_demon_007
Your support means a lot, even if you're joining for free. Come hang out, read early updates, and enjoy the fanfic!