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  --xLOVEx--

  Robin quietly dispelled the eye and ear she had sprouted in Coby and Nami’s room. Her slick fingers wiped , but a small smirk pyed on her lips. Although she hadn’t inteo spy, her curiosity got the better of her, and she was gd she had. 'Sorry, Nami,' she thought to herself, a light chuckle esg her lips. 'But I think I like Coby too.'

  Satisfied with her little discovery, Robin stood up and made her way toward the lively party that was still raging in the garden. The sounds of ughter, king gsses, and Luffy’s overexcited voice echoed through the air. Franky’s crew had brought plenty of booze, and the Straw Hats were enjoying every sed of it. The sweet smell of grilled meat filled the air, courtesy of Sanji, who was manning the grill.

  Coby and Nami reappeared not long after, casually walking bato the garden. Nami’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but she pyed it cool, ag as if nothing had happened. Coby was more rexed than ever, his shirt slightly undone, but he wasn’t trying to hide it either.

  Luffy, sitting in the middle of the garden with meat piled high in front of him, immediately spotted them. “Coby! Nami! Robin! e a!” he shouted, his mouth half full of meat. “I saved some meat for you guys!”

  Coby couldn't help but chuckle. For Luffy to save meat for someo he really, really loved that person. He grabbed a piece of grilled meat from the pte and took a big bite. The rich, smoky fvor hit him, and he nodded in appreciation at Sanji’s cooking.

  As he ate, Coby gnced around the garden. Franky and Iceburg were missing—probably already hard at work on the new ship. They weren’t oo waste time, especially after Franky’s emotional speech about the Treasure Tree Adam.

  Usopp was watg from afar, hiding behind a wall. He had been lurking there for a while, unsure of how to approach the crew after everything that had happened. His feelings were a mess, torween guilt and shame for leaving the crew. He thought he hidden well enough, but he wasn’t the stealthiest at the best of times. Chopper had snuck over earlier a food and drio him while he wasn’t looking. Usopp noticed the pte and drink and gave a small smile, pig up the food with a nod of appreciation.

  Ba the garden, Robin casually sat dowo Coby, her eyes sing the crowd but quickly fog on him. She leaned in slightly, a pyful smirk on her lips as she spoke. “Is that a new perfume?”

  Coby chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement as he stretched his arms behind his head. “Nah, it’s natural. Though, if we’re being ho, I smell something natural on you too,” he teased, gng her way.

  Robin’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she instinctively checked herself, running her fingers over her clothes to see if there were aale signs of her ret activities. There were none. Realizing Coby was teasing her, she shot him a pyful gre, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Very funny,” she replied, but Coby’s ugh only deepened.

  Nami, who was sitting just across from them, narrowed her eyes at Robin. The subtle tensioweewo women fred up again, and Nami leaned in just a little closer to Coby, her message clear: Back off.

  It was a warning—one Robin picked up on instantly. The silent tensioweewo women was for all to see, but Robi her expression cool and posed, her small smirk never fading.

  Before things could escate, Luffy’s loud voice broke the moment. “Oi! More meat! Sanji, where’s the food?” He was already stag ptes in front of him, stuffing his face like he haden in days.

  Sanji, standing by the grill with his cigarette dangling from his lips, rolled his eyes. “It’s ing, you damn glutton. Hold your horses.” The party in the garden tinued as the sun started to set, casting a warm glow over everyone.

  The day ended with a party. Drinks flowed, a grilled as the crew celebrated in the garden, their spirits finally lifted after the emotional farewell to the Going Merry.

  Tassed iive peace, the crew hanging around Water 7 while Franky worked tirelessly on their new ship. Ohird day, Sanji returned from the market with a bit of hat sent a ripple through the crew.

  “I saw Usopp in the market today,” Sanji said, his face serious as he joihe crew in the garden. Everyone immediately perked up at his words.

  Luffy's face lit up. "Usopp?! Where? Is he ing back?"

  Chopper’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Usopp! We’ve gotta go get him!”

  Nami smiled slightly, “So he’s still in town?”

  Sanji nodded. “Yeah, he was by himself, looking pretty down. But…” His gaze shifted to Coby and Zoro, who sat a little apart from the group. “He ractig his speech to return to crew.”

  Although the crew's initial excitement about Usopp being nearby alpable, it was quickly cut short by Zoro’s sharp voice. Coby, loungio him, didn’t o step in, knowing Zoro had this covered. He let Zoro speak, not wanting to steal his thunder, especially si was Coby who fought Usopp this time, unlike in the anime where it had been Luffy. It wasn’t the time for Coby to voice his thoughts. That would only e across as petty.

  “I won’t let anyone go ach Usopp,” Zoro decred, his eyes hard as he looked at the crew. His voice left no room fument. “No matter what, you shouldn’t bow down to him. I will not allow his return until he gets on his knees and apologizes. That’s the only way he es back to this crew.”

  Nami opened her mouth to protest, her eyebrows knitting in frustration, and Chopper looked like he was about to cry. But before they could voice their objes, Coby raised his hand, stopping them both. “Listen to him,” Coby said simply. His stah Zoro was clear. Nami bit her lip, unsure, but she stayed quiet. Chopper, though visibly upset, backed down as well.

  Luffy, who had been quiet during the whole exge, g Coby. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Luffy uood that Coby was taking a firm stance alongside Zoro. Even Luffy’s carefree attitude had limits when his vice-captain and swordsmahis serious.

  Zoro tinued, addressing the entire crehatever you think about the root of the argumeween Luffy, Coby, and Usopp, or who was right... Usopp chose to fight. He lost that fight, and then he walked away. He left us,” Zoro said, his voiwavering. “Even if you think Luffy and Coby were wrong, Usopp still made that choice.”

  The crew was silent, the weight of Zoro’s words sinking in. They khe truth of it, even if it hurt.

  Zoro’s eyes hardened as he shifted his gaze directly onto Luffy. “Listen, you lot,” Zrowled, his haing on the hilt of his sword. “Even though our captain is a big idiot,” he added, a small smirk pying on his lips, “he is still our captain. It’s better to not have someone on this crew who ’t respect him. A crew whose captain loses his respect is destio crumble.”

  Zoro then got all the more serious, his voice l as he directed his words solely at Luffy. “I don’t care that you’re usually joking, fooling around, and goofing off, but if you humiliate yourself... if you let Usopp e back without apologizing and still try to call yourself my captain, then I’ll be the oo leave this crew.”

  Luffy’s eyes wide the statement. The rest of the crew looked shocked, unsure how to react. The thought of Zoro leaving wasn’t something any of them wao eain.

  Znced around at the crew. “We aren’t kids pying pirates. There are still a couple of days before the ship is ready, and until then, if Usopp’s first words are a sincere apology, then take him back if you want. But if not, I’ve made my choice.”

  The crew was stunned into silenami’s hands ched at her sides, but she didn’t argue. She knew better than anyone how serious Zoro was about respect, and the look on his face told her there was no ging his mind. Chopper, eyes watery, looked up at Luffy, waiting for some kind of response.

  Luffy let out a long sigh, his straw hat tipped low over his eyes. He didn’t look at anyone as he spoke. “Zorht.” His voice was quiet, but there was no doubt in his tone.

  The crew didn’t argue after that. Even Nami, though she looked like she wao fight it, khere was no ging Luffy’s mind once he agreed with Zoro. She sighed and leaned ba her chair, arms crossed.

  Coby nodded slightly, aowledging the resolution. The air around them was thick with tension, but the point had been made. Usopp wasn’t just going to walk bato the crew like nothing had happened. Not this time.

  Sanji, who had been silent throughout the versation, took a long drag from his cigarette before blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Well, guess we’ll just have to wait and see what that idiot does,” he muttered.

  Zoro crossed his arms and leaned back, his eyes drifting shut as if the versation was over. “Yeah, and until then, we don’t go looking for him. If he wants to e back, he knows what he has to do.”

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