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After breakfast, each of the Straw Hats went about their normal routine on the ship. Zoro headed up to the crow’s nest, where he alternated between intense training sessions and catching up on sleep. The rhythmic clinking of his weights could be heard from below, a testament to his dedication. Sanji stayed in the kitchen, meticulously cleaning up after breakfast and beginning to prep for lunch. The aroma of fresh ingredients filled the air, promising another delicious meal.
Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp made their way to the deck, eager to fish. Luffy’s enthusiastic shouts echoed as he cast his line, while Chopper and Usopp chatted excitedly about the types of fish they hoped to catch. Robin went to the upper deck, settling into a lounge chair with a book in hand. She basked in the sunlight, occasionally turning a page with a serene smile on her face.
Franky headed to his workshop, the sound of tools clinking and machinery whirring indicating he was hard at work on his latest “suuuper” gadgets. Brook sat on the swing, his violin in hand, playing lively shanties that added a cheerful background melody to the ship’s activities. Jinbe joined Robin on the upper deck, closing his eyes and relaxing in the sun, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Bepo was lying down on the grassy deck, his large form providing a comfortable backrest for Law, who leaned against him with his hat tilted down to cover his eyes. The two shared a quiet moment, the gentle rocking of the ship adding to the tranquility.
Meanwhile, Nami took Rena around each part of the ship, explaining what each room was and what they usually did in them. They visited the kitchen, where Sanji greeted them with a smile and offered a taste of his latest creation. They peeked into the workshop, where Franky proudly showed off his newest invention. On the upper deck, Robin and Jinbe waved as Nami and Rena passed by, exchanging a few friendly words.
When they came across another crew member, idle chats were had before they moved on to the next part of the ship. Rena found herself fascinated by the diverse personalities and roles of each crew member, feeling a growing sense of belonging.
After the entire ship was covered, the two made their way back to the main deck and sat on the circular bench that was around the giant mast. The gentle breeze and the sound of the waves created a soothing backdrop as they settled down.
“Well, that’s our ship. Oh, she’s called the Thousand Sunny,” Nami said, leaning back with a contented sigh.
“That’s an interesting name. Certainly fitting for an interesting group of people,” Rena smiled at the orange-haired woman.
Nami leaned back, smiling as she thought about her crew and all the adventures they had been on so far. “Yeah… we certainly are an interesting group.”
“Say, Nami?” Rena began.
“Hm?” Nami responded.
“In that room with the aquarium…” Rena hesitated.
“The Aquarium Bar? What about it?” Nami asked.
“There was a piano in there. Would… would it be alright if I played it?” Rena asked, looking hopeful.
Nami sat up and turned her head to look at Rena. “You play?”
Rena looked off into the distance, lost in thought. “I’m… not sure, but I get this feeling I can. I’d like to try. It might trigger some of my memories,” she said hopefully.
Law’s ears perked up at Rena’s comment, though he didn’t move as he was contently comfortable against his first mate.
Nami smiled at Rena. “I don’t see why not. Hey, Brook!”
Brook stopped his playing and turned towards Nami. “Hmm? Yes, Nami-san?”
“Could Rena play your piano?” Nami asked.
“Well, of course! Music is a gateway to the soul. I didn’t know you played, Rena-san,” Brook said, intrigued.
“Well, I’m not sure if I can actually, but when we passed by it earlier, I had a sense of nostalgia, so I think I might be able to play it,” Rena explained.
“Well then, let’s go see, shall we? And if you can’t, I can play you a song that will tickle your skin. Mine would tickle… if I had any! YOHOHOHO!” The skeleton laughed, opening the door for Rena, who shuffled into the bar.
The fishing trio, who had heard the conversation, jumped and followed suit.
“Rennie’s going to play the piano?! I wanna hear!” Luffy yelped as he bounced into the bar, followed by Chopper and Usopp.
“Her name is Rena, you idiot,” Usopp snapped at his captain.
Nami turned towards the three that just walked in, mumbling in a stern tone. “You three better. keep. quiet.” The group all took seats along the couch and hushed as they watched Rena approach the instrument.
Rena slowly stepped towards the piano, looking at it with a sense of familiarity yet as if it was a foreign object. After a few moments, she slowly sat down on the bench and rested her hands in her lap. She looked at the black and white keys before she slowly raised her hands, hovering for just a moment above the keys as if she was running through her mind what to play. Closing her eyes, she rested her hands down on the keys, her fingers sliding into place as if it was natural. Here goes nothing, she thought to herself before letting her hands flow freely.
Her fingers flowed so smoothly and freely over the keys that it felt like second nature. The melody she played came so naturally, filling her with a profound sense of happiness. A smile formed on her face, and she opened her eyes to look down at her hands. They moved with such grace and precision, as if they were meant to do nothing else. With each note, her confidence grew, and she closed her eyes again, allowing herself to get lost in the music.
Unbeknownst to her, her music had captivated everyone in the room. The notes she played didn’t just stay confined within the walls of the bar; they flowed out across the ship, reaching every corner and every heart on board. The music touched the souls of each pirate, soothing them in a way they hadn’t felt in a long time. It gave everyone a feeling of serenity, a rare and precious gift. Many of them had experienced happiness and a range of other emotions over the years, but nothing quite like this. Even though they were certain they had never heard this melody before, it evoked a deep sense of nostalgia.
Rena was completely immersed in her melody. Her thoughts began to wander. I guess I really do know how to play. This feels so… so… warm. This melody feels so familiar. It’s happy yet filled with sorrow. It feels so peaceful. Her mind, body, and soul were in perfect harmony with the rhythm, but soon her thoughts began to conflict. If this comes so naturally, then why do I feel so conflicted? It’s as if I was born to play, but something stopped me. What was it? What stopped me from feeling this… content?
Rena didn’t notice the tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes as her smile slowly faded into a frown. And then there’s that dream I had. I had the feeling I had some sort of purpose for being there, but yet it was so terrifying. That man. There was such a menacing aura about him. If I can play this beautiful melody, then just what was I doing in such a terrible place? Her playing began to slow down, the notes becoming softer and more hesitant, before the song came to a premature stop.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOviyY2UMRI
Rena’s hands froze just above the keys she was about to play next. She opened her eyes as tears began to fall down her cheeks. She looked forward to nothing in particular as her eyes lost all focus, clouded by water. Her hands began to tremble.
“Ms. Rena? Are you alright?” Brook asked with concern.
Everyone was brought out of their trance as the music stopped, bringing them back to reality. They all looked at Rena as she moved her hands to her face to feel the tears she only just now realized were streaming down her face.
“I’m… I’m fine… Just need some air,” Rena said, jumping up and pushing the bench back, startling the group in the bar. She quickly made her way out of the room, head down so they wouldn’t see her face, leaving everyone frozen as they weren’t sure what just happened.
As she stepped out onto the deck, Law raised his hat and sat up as he saw Rena burst through the door. She unintentionally looked towards the man, making eye contact with his confused face. As soon as she did, the tears began to flow even harder, and she turned to run up the stairs towards the back of the ship.
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4ILdcYOLT
