One Piece: Celestial Blood, Part 2

To Create a Better World.

Luffy and Rira pushed each other on the way down the stairs, in an effort to get first plate, both of them falling and landing face down as a result.

"Shit.."

Rira muttered, before quickly pushing up and rubbing her forehead. She looked at Luffy, who seemed fine and ran off to get a plate. She huffs and follows behind him while the others walked down the stairs much more orderly.

On the counters, different plates were laid out with a variety of foods on them, making you wonder how the cook whipped them up so fast. Luffy had made himself a heaping plate and sat down, Chiyo running into the kitchen from the smell and jumping up and down for a plate. Rira made a smaller plate for her and she sat down next to Luffy.

"This all looks so good... Sanji, what should I try?"

The brunette eagerly asked, her eyes locked onto the food. She doesn't wait for a response, taking a little bit of everything and sitting down. The others get their plates, and eventually everyone's eating except Kana, who was still occupied with office work.

Rira was scarfing her food down at a pace that rivaled Luffy, before leaning back in her seat with a content grin on her face.

"So delicious... I can't eat another bite!!"

"I'll finish your plate for you!"

Luffy says, voice muffled from a mouth full of food. She nods, sweeping her plate's contents onto Luffy's shrinking food pile.

"Hey, Rira. You just gonna let us use your house as a hotel and let us leave?"

"Hm?"

The redhead was looking at her, inquisitive.

"You'll never see us again."

"Yeah.. I know.. that doesn't mean I can't be nice to you all though.. it's the least I can do.. you guys seem.. well... you guys will definitely be the best pirate crew."

She warmly smiles, Luffy interrupting loudly.

"You should join us, Rira! I have no clue what a counselor does, but you let me eat at your house!!"

"I shouldn't. This village needs me."

"Really, 'cause I don't see you doing anything around here."

Luffy says, blunt as ever.

"This is my home... it won't be easy to leave. And I'd have to leave Chiyo behind too."

"I've decided you're gonna join my crew."

"Have you?"

"A counselor's even more important than a musician!!"

Luffy had no clue what the occupation entailed but his meaning was still very clear.

She was a good friend, so she would make a good crew mate.

That's what it's all about, no?

"I won't join just because of that."

She asserts, her eyes becoming more firm. She walks off to her room, slumping down onto the floor, thinking.

"What will happen if I leave here to chase some idiot dream of pirating? Even though they look like they have potential, they're just kids my age."

"What if I died at sea?"

"Nah, I wouldn't really care much."

"What's worse... dying at sea.. or... not doing anything with my life...?"

"Sachiko... what would you think?"

"Hah.. I'd love to see the look on her face when I prove her wrong."

"When I, Allbright Rira, despite everything— create a better world."