New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Cover Story 1: Tales of the Red Cinders - Part 1

The sky above was a muted canvas of soft blues and greys, with scattered clouds moving lazily across it. The waves lapped gently at the pristine shore as if the sea whispered secrets to the island. Despite the gentle weather, something ominous stirred in the air.

However, on a specific island, the blue sky seemed to disappear, replaced by a starry night that felt alien amidst the shades of blue. This land was called Nightingale Island, a place where eternal night reigned, its dark canopy stretching from the treetops to the shore, regardless of the time.

*Whoosh*

*Whoosh*

Despite the unusual sight, especially here in the Grand Line, the quick flapping of a News Coo resonated as it glided through the night sky. The bird swooped down, releasing its latest delivery to a figure standing on the beach, its shadow long under the pale moonlight.

*Thud*

A rolled-up newspaper landed softly in the sand, its inked headlines barely visible in the dim moonlight. Then, a hand reached down and picked it up before opening it and looking through the pages.

After going through the pages, the person chuckled. "I see you are still making waves, huh?" came the person's voice, revealing it to be Hinote. His fingertips briefly traced the headlines before his gaze locked onto a particular section.

A bounty poster stared back at him, bearing the familiar face of Y/n L/n. "250 million berries..." Hinote muttered under his breath, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement. "Now the World Government isn't underestimating you, are they?" he asked no one.

"...I hope...that we meet...in the New...World..." he remembered what he said to Y/n after their fight at Glasteria. Despite the outcome, Hinote couldn't help but respect the strength Y/n had shown. His hands flexed slightly, the memory of that battle still fresh in his muscles.

*Tap*

*Tap*

Footsteps approached from behind, and Rekka stepped up beside him. She cast a glance at the newspaper in his hand. "What's that?" she asked, though her eyes were already drawn to the bounty section.

Her eyes narrowed when she spotted Shachi's face and the bounty beneath it. "Seriously?" Rekka scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. "141 million berries? Are they just handing out these numbers now?" she asked with a scoff.

Hinote chuckled, sensing the bitterness she tried to mask. "Still stings, doesn't it?" he teased, his grin widening. "I'm not bitter!" Rekka huffed, though her clenched fists betrayed her. "It's just ridiculous. That girl's bounty jumped way too high. I could've taken her down if things had gone differently," she said, looking back at the bounty.

"I mean, come on, 141 million? For her? This is literally-" "Higher than your current bounty?" Homura asked, smirking as she strolled over. Homura folded her arms, eyes gleaming with amusement.

Rekka turned around and glared at her. "Right now, yes, but mark my words: one day, I will have a higher bounty than her," Rekka promised, making Homura chuckle. "I don't doubt that," said the lion mink before her eyes landed on Fuyune bounty.

"...I have people to protect...and I will make sure what happened to Rindo never happens again," she recalled Fuyune's words, making the pyro mink smile. '114 million berries, huh? You're doing good for yourself,' thought Homura before looking at Hinote.

"We are ready to explore this island," Homura said, making Hinote nod. He glanced one last time at the paper before the edges caught fire in his hand. He watched as the flames consumed the pages, the remnants of the world's news reduced to ash in seconds.

Then, he turned back toward the rest of the Red Cinders. "Let's go," he said, making them nod. Rekka cracked her knuckles, rolling her neck as she prepared herself. "Finally. Maybe we'll run into something interesting this time," she said, making Hinote smile.

As they moved toward the tree line, Yakeru hesitated, glancing over their shoulder at the odd, unending twilight. "Hinote," they called, their voice tinged with unease. "Don't you feel something...strange about this place?" asked Yakeru.

Hinote paused, scanning the distant horizon. "Yeah," he admitted. "It's not just the night sky. There's something else..." he paused before looking at Homura. "Almost something primal," he said, making her hum.

"Didn't you say you felt something primal emanating from Y/n when you fought?" she asked, making Hinote nod and look forward. "Maybe it's something...or someone similar," the doctor guessed. At her words, the crew exchanged glances.

A small chuckle escaped Naoki as he hefted a few tools onto his shoulder. "Wouldn't be a Red Cinders exploration without a fight," he remarked, his eyes drifting to Rekka. "Especially with certain reckless idiots on board," he said with a smile.

Rekka glared at him, her arms crossing over her chest once more. "You're talking about yourself, right?" she countered, as Naoki laughed lowly, shaking his head. "Of course not. But if the shoe fits..." he lingered.

"Well, if we do run into any danger, I'll just leave one of the 'reckless idiots' to fight it," Homura chimed in, causing Rekka to give her an exasperated look. "Are you guys really teaming up on me right now!?" she asked as her hands let out a slight cracking noise, making the crew chuckle.

Suddenly, Homura noticed something. She knelt by a glowing plant, her fingers brushing over its shimmering leaves. "These plants... they weren't glowing when we landed," she said softly, her voice tinged with unease.

Hinote narrowed his eyes, glancing at his crew. "Stay sharp, everyone. We don't know what we'll find here," he reminded them before he took the first step toward the tree line. As they walked, the flowers and nature seemed to glow and react to their presence, leaving them unsure of what to expect.

To be continued