The village did not sleep that night.
Lanterns were strung across the streets, their warm glow spilling over wooden tables pulled together in long rows. Food was laid out in generous portions, hastily prepared but made with care, and barrels of drink were rolled out from storage that had not been opened in years. Laughter echoed freely, unrestrained and loud, as if the villagers feared that silence itself might bring Arlong back.
For the first time in a long while, no one was afraid.
Luffy sat at the center of it all, devouring everything within reach. Plates stacked up around him at an alarming rate as villagers laughed and scrambled to keep him fed.
"This is so good!" he declared, mouth full. "I could eat forever!"
Sanji moved between grills and tables with practiced ease, cigarette in place as he cooked, cursed, and flirted shamelessly. "Eat as much as you want! Tonight's special—celebration style!"
Usopp soaked in the attention, standing atop a crate and waving his arms dramatically as he told stories that grew more ridiculous with every retelling. Each version of the battle featured more explosions, more enemies, and himself at the center of it all.
Zoro sat off to the side with a bottle in hand, back against a post. He drank slowly, eyes half-lidded, appearing relaxed—but his gaze never truly settled.
He noticed everything.
Including the man who sat apart from the feast.
Ren remained near the edge of the gathering, posture straight, movements minimal. A plate of food sat in front of him, barely touched. While everyone else leaned in close to one another, he kept distance, positioning himself where he could see both the village and the open path beyond it.
Zoro took another drink, watching quietly.
Doesn't relax, he thought. Even now.
It wasn't fear. Zoro knew fear. This wasn't it.
It was habit.
The kind forged in places where letting your guard down meant dying.
Ren's eyes drifted across the crowd, not lingering on faces but on spaces—gaps between people, corners between buildings, the way shadows pooled beneath lantern light. Even seated, he looked ready to move at a moment's notice.
Zoro exhaled through his nose.
He doesn't belong to peaceful places.
Luffy, meanwhile, noticed something else.
Between bites, he glanced around, grin still wide, and his eyes landed on Ren. He watched him for a few seconds longer than usual, chewing slowing slightly.
He's not having fun, Luffy thought.
That was strange.
Everyone always had fun at feasts. That was just how it worked.
Luffy shoved another piece of food into his mouth, finished chewing, then stood abruptly.
"HEY!" he called out, waving. "REN!"
Ren looked up immediately.
"Why aren't you eating more?"
Several villagers turned to look. Ren paused, then picked up his food again, taking a measured bite.
"I am eating," he replied.
Luffy squinted. "That's barely eating."
Ren said nothing.
Luffy tilted his head, confused, but shrugged it off just as quickly and went back to eating. Still, every now and then, his eyes drifted back toward Ren, brow furrowing just slightly.
As the night stretched on, the energy of the feast softened. Some villagers drifted home, exhaustion finally overtaking excitement. Children fell asleep against their parents. The music quieted, becoming a gentle background hum rather than a roar.
Ren rose silently and walked away from the gathering.
Zoro noticed immediately.
He didn't follow—but his eyes tracked Ren's movement until he disappeared into the darker edge of the village.
Figured.
Ren walked until the noise dulled behind him, stopping near the shoreline where the lantern light faded and the sea reflected pale moonlight. The air here felt lighter, less crowded. He closed his eyes and focused inward.
Chakra answered slowly, like it always did in this world.
He adjusted his breathing, recalling what he had learned through trial rather than theory. Less force. Less intent. Control over output.
A single hand seal.
A faint crackle of lightning danced briefly across his fingertips before fading. Ren winced slightly at the feedback, then tried again—this time easing the chakra flow further.
The spark returned, softer, stable.
Ren guided it carefully along his arm, reinforcing muscle response rather than amplifying strength. The sensation was subtle but effective, his movements sharpening as if friction had been reduced.
Lightning responded best this way.
It didn't fight the pressure of this world—it slipped through it.
Ren released the chakra cleanly, then crouched and placed his palm against the ground. Another careful application followed, sending a shallow vibration outward. The feedback returned faintly, mapping the terrain in a small radius around him.
Supportive. Sustainable.
Useful.
"You're really bad at parties."
Ren straightened instantly, chakra dispersing as Luffy stepped into view.
"You move quietly," Ren observed.
Luffy grinned. "I wasn't trying."
He plopped down beside Ren, legs dangling over the edge of the slope. For a while, he just sat there, staring out at the sea.
Zoro watched them from afar, arms crossed.
Captain's got a good eye, he thought. He doesn't know why—but he knows something's off.
Luffy finally spoke again.
"You know," he said, voice casual, "most people don't leave feasts."
Ren didn't answer.
"They stay," Luffy continued. "They laugh. They eat. They sleep wherever they fall."
Ren's gaze remained on the water.
Luffy scratched his cheek. "You look like you're waiting for something bad to happen."
Ren's eyes flicked toward him—just briefly.
Luffy smiled, not accusing, not serious. Just honest.
"…But nothing bad's gonna happen tonight," he added.
Ren said nothing, but something in his posture eased, just a fraction.
Luffy seemed satisfied with that and hopped back to his feet. "Food's not gonna eat itself!"
He ran back toward the lantern light.
Ren stayed behind a little longer, watching the waves.
From the shadows, Zoro took another drink.
He's trying, Zoro thought. That's enough—for now.
The feast continued into the night, laughter carrying across the island.
And beneath it all, a quiet storm learned how to wait.