Morning arrived, and one by one, everyone aboard the Going Merry woke from their sleep and gathered on deck to relax.
The little girl quietly slipped into the kitchen, opened the pantry, and began picking out ingredients.
“What are you doing~?” Dazai crouched down behind her and whispered into her ear.
“Ah—!” The little girl nearly screamed, but Dazai quickly covered her mouth.
“Don’t let anyone notice.” He looked cautiously from side to side before speaking softly.
“Don’t make a sound, okay?” The girl nodded, and only then did Dazai let go.
“Are you trying to thank everyone by making breakfast?” He pointed at the ingredients scattered across the floor.
“Mhm!” The girl’s eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically.
Dazai immediately became interested.
Picking up a carrot from the floor, he stood up with excitement.
“Then let me help!
I’m a master chef!” “Thank you…” The little girl bowed gratefully, then hesitated as though something had occurred to her.
“Da…
Dazai—” “Just call me Dazai.” “Okay!
Mr.
Dazai.
My name is Apis!” “Then let’s get started!” Somehow, Dazai had already tied a red headband around his forehead, striking a dramatic pose.
“Salt!” “Soy sauce!” “Tofu!” “Bandages!” Standing confidently in front of the stove like a seasoned commander, Dazai directed Apis while tending a pot of chicken soup.
The broth bubbled away merrily.
Its color gradually darkened into an unsettling shade of purple, while the rising steam somehow formed the shape of a skull.
Meanwhile, Apis carefully wrapped a block of white tofu in cloth before pressing it beneath several heavy bricks.
“Breakfast’s ready!” Wearing an apron, Dazai cheerfully called everyone inside.
As Luffy and the others entered the dining room, they found a bowl of soup waiting for each person, accompanied by a neat block of white tofu on every plate.
“You two made all this?” Dazai proudly patted the blushing Apis on the shoulder.
“Apis wanted to thank everyone, so naturally I volunteered to help~” Then he proudly presented the pot of soup.
“This is my masterpiece—Super-Energy Chicken Soup!
Anyone who drinks it can stay awake for three whole days and nights!” “Three days and nights?
That’s ridiculous.” Usopp volunteered to taste it first.
He took a sip.
“…It actually tastes pretty good.” Dazai simply stared at him without saying anything.
The instant Usopp swallowed— He shot to his feet.
“I feel unstoppable!
I’ve got endless energy!
I suddenly want to work!” Grabbing his toolbox, he sprinted out to repair the ship.
Everyone else froze with their spoons halfway to their mouths.
They slowly turned toward Dazai.
Dazai rested his face in his hands.
“The only problem is…
there are a few side effects~” “What side effects?” Luffy immediately raised his hand.
“You…
might never wake up after you finally fall asleep~” Dazai poked his cheek awkwardly.
Sanji’s cigarette slipped from his fingers.
Nami swallowed hard as she stared suspiciously at the soup in front of her.
“Then what’s this?” Luffy carefully pushed aside the tofu, took a bite…
Crack!
His teeth rattled painfully.
“This is Hard Tofu.” Dazai proudly held up the white block.
“I originally invented it as a way to commit suicide.” “But it turned out harder than a brick!” “Don’t worry, though—it doesn’t have any side effects.” He demonstrated by trying to chop it with a kitchen knife.
The blade bounced off.
“You can even use it to crack walnuts.” “…” Zoro stared at the food before him as though facing a powerful enemy.
He didn’t dare move.
“You’ll eat it…
right?” Standing behind Zoro, Dazai’s face was hidden in shadow.
“This is the heartfelt effort Apis and I put into making breakfast.” Apis looked at everyone with sparkling, hopeful eyes.
“…Eat.” Sanji wiped away a bead of sweat.
“We can’t waste food.” One after another, everyone silently picked up their spoons.
Not long afterward— “I’m going to practice my swordsmanship!” “I’m going to update my sea charts!” “I’ll organize the pantry!” “I’m heading outside—!” The Super-Energy Chicken Soup worked exactly as advertised.
Everyone became unbelievably energetic and immediately threw themselves into work.
“Mr.
Dazai?” Apis looked curiously at Dazai, who gently stopped her from drinking the same soup.
“Apis-chan, you can have this one instead.” He poured her a different bowl.
Apis obediently drank it.
Nothing unusual happened.
Because hers…
…was just ordinary chicken soup.
On deck, Zoro tirelessly practiced his swordsmanship.
Usopp hammered away at repairs.
Sanji prepared ingredients in the kitchen.
Luffy threw punch after punch into the air.
Meanwhile, Dazai lounged comfortably in a deck chair, sipping fruit juice while letting Apis sunbathe beside him.
In the distance, the Marine 8th Fleet slowly approached.
Without warning— Boom!
They opened fire on the Going Merry.
The crew, still running on Dazai’s bizarre soup, instantly turned toward the Marines with burning determination.
“You dare challenge Captain Usopp?!” For once, Usopp didn’t panic first.
He immediately adjusted the ship’s cannon and returned fire.
“Gum-Gum Bullet!” Luffy launched a barrage of punches.
“Three Thousand Worlds!” Zoro opened the battle with one of his strongest techniques.
Sanji continuously kicked incoming cannonballs back toward the Marine ships.
Nami skillfully steered the Going Merry through the barrage while constantly adjusting their course.
Dazai quickly led Apis to safety before emerging with the rifle he had stolen earlier, firing precise shots at the enemy.
The Marine 8th Fleet was enormous.
Although the Straw Hats destroyed several ships, it barely made a dent in the fleet’s overwhelming numbers.
“Nami—we need to retreat first.” Dazai hurried to the helm.
Nami studied the enemy’s superior firepower before nodding.
“The wind…” Apis closed her eyes.
“It’s coming.” “Usopp!
Zoro!
Raise the sails!
We’re leaving!” Nami trusted Apis’s instincts.
The two immediately abandoned their relentless assault and followed her orders.
Just as Apis predicted, a powerful wind swept across the sea.
The Going Merry caught the wind and surged forward.
Strangely, the Marine ships pursuing them suddenly stopped advancing, unable to continue the chase.
The Straw Hat Pirates escaped from the Marine 8th Fleet.
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