"What do you want with the Straw Hats?"

As Nojiko gently wiped the blood from Genzo's forehead, she looked at Sora with clear confusion.

His actions were puzzling.

Was he a villain? He was the infamous Godslayer—the man who had killed a Celestial Dragon and a king. And he had just hurt Genzo.

But then again, he let Genzo go without pressing the threat.

If he'd kept pressing her, using Genzo's safety as leverage, she might have given in.

Instead, he stopped and... started eating oranges?

Nojiko had seen real cutthroat pirates—those who would kill at the slightest provocation. Compared to them, Sora didn't seem so bad.

Of course, if Anna or Shalria knew what she was thinking, they'd probably slap her across the face.

Though both women had completely fallen for Sora and wouldn't dare resist him, neither believed he was a good person.

"Because I'm going to take Nami for myself," Sora said casually, biting into a slice of orange.

Anna knelt behind him, massaging his shoulders, while Shalria sat beside him, peeling oranges and feeding them to him, one tender slice at a time.

"You bastard! You want to take Nami, too?!"

Hearing this, Genzo exploded with rage. This bastard wasn't content with stealing Nojiko—he wanted Nami as well!

"Genzo, please calm down," Nojiko said quickly, trying to stop him from provoking Sora again.

Sora gave Genzo a brief glance before rising to his feet.

The oranges were gone. It was time to leave.

"Let's go, Miss Nojiko," he said with a smile.

"Unless you want Genzo to get hurt again."

He really is a bastard...

Hearing Sora use Genzo as a threat once more, Nojiko realized how naïve she'd been thinking he might be kind.

"Don't do it, Nojiko!" Genzo growled. But as he tried to resist again, Anna quickly restrained him. She was gentler this time, avoiding injury.

"Alright... I'll go with you," Nojiko said with a nod, her voice soft but resolved.

She had no real choice.

She then turned to Sora. "Can I speak with Genzo alone for a moment?"

"You may," he replied, nodding. "I'll wait up ahead."

With that, he walked off with Shalria and Anna in tow.

"You're bringing that whole basket of oranges?" Sora asked, eyeing Anna curiously.

"You like them, don't you?" she answered with complete sincerity.

Sora rolled his eyes. "Why not just dig up one of her trees while you're at it?"

Shalria's eyes lit up. Before Anna could react, she exclaimed, "I'll go do that right now!"

And she took off running toward Nojiko's house.

Not to be outdone, Anna rushed after her. She couldn't let Shalria outshine her in front of Sora—not when she was trying so hard to win his favor.

Meanwhile, Nojiko knelt beside Genzo.

"Genzo, I've always been envious of Nami, getting to travel the seas so freely," she said quietly.

"There were times I thought... if only I could join her. If we could sail together, like a pair of sister thieves—that would've been amazing."

"But I know my own limits. I'm not cut out for the pirate life."

She smiled as she finished cleaning the blood from his forehead.

"But now, Sora wants me on his crew. And I... I want to say yes."

These weren't just words. She meant them.

Of course, the biggest reason was that Sora was simply too powerful. With a 1.5 billion bounty, if he really wanted something, no one could stop him.

Rather than wait for him to get violent, it was safer—and smarter—to go willingly.

Nojiko didn't want Genzo or anyone in the village to get hurt.

"But the way he treats you..." Genzo said, clearly worried.

"Relax," Nojiko replied. "You saw that World Noble, Shalria. She lost her family to him, and now she follows him around like a loyal servant."

"I don't think he'll mistreat me."

"Besides... he's handsome. If I end up as his woman, I guess that's not the worst outcome," she added with a smirk.

She laughed softly. Truth be told, if Sora hadn't been so forceful, she might've agreed to go with him of her own accord. She did want to see the world like Nami had.

Sora's arrival had given her that chance.

Genzo remained silent.

He knew this had always been Nojiko's wish—but it didn't make it any easier to trust Sora.

"Well, it's settled then."

Nojiko gave Genzo a hug.

"Take care of yourself, Dad," she whispered.

With that, she turned and walked away.

Genzo stood frozen in place, tears filling his eyes.

It was the first time she had ever called him "Dad."

"I'll take care of her, Genzo."

Sora appeared beside him once more.

"This Devil Fruit is my gift to her."

He held out a rare, swirling fruit.

Each Devil Fruit was worth at least 100 million Berries—a fortune Genzo could never dream of affording.

With such a gift, Nojiko would be much safer.

He hadn't expected Sora to come so prepared.

He still didn't understand why Sora had come all the way from the North Blue for Nojiko—but he could no longer doubt the man's sincerity.

"You bastard... You better treat her right," Genzo said gruffly.

"If you hurt her—I'll haunt you from the afterlife!"

He pulled a small bottle of sake from his pocket, took a swig, and handed it to Sora.

Sora grinned, accepted the bottle, and downed it.

"Don't worry... Father-in-law."

"Whether it's Nojiko or Nami, I'll take good care of them."

He dropped a chest of treasure at Genzo's feet and turned to run.

"Here's my bride price," he said with a laugh.

Genzo's face twisted in outrage as Sora dashed off.

He caught up with Nojiko, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her away toward the Divine Slave.

"What did Genzo say to you just now?" Nojiko asked, curious as she bounced on his shoulder.

"I'm to take good care of both of you sisters," Sora replied, smiling.

"…Tch."

Behind them, Genzo shouted one final time:

"You bastard! If you dare lay a hand on Nami, I swear I'll never forgive you!"

Sora laughed softly and held Nojiko tighter as he ran.

Elsewhere, Anna and Shalria each carried a full orange tree they'd uprooted from Nojiko's yard. They hurried to catch up with Sora and the others.

Soon, under Genzo's furious yelling, the Divine Slave raised anchor and sailed off—

Nojiko had officially joined the crew.

_____

[You give me a power stone, and I will give you a mass release deal? And if you like this story, add it to your library and give me a review, and I will reward you with mass release.]