New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Cover Story 3: A Tigress' Hunt - Part 3

*BOOM*

*CRASH*

The Red Cinders' ship cut through the roaring waves, riding the erratic currents of the New World. Lightning arced in the distance like serpents across the sky, and the sea heaved beneath them in towering swells. Yet amid the chaos, the deck was filled with booming laughter.

"Hahahaha! Now this is what I call a welcome party!" Rekka said, gripping the railing as the ship tilted wildly. "Kikiki... If you fall overboard, I'm not diving in after you," Naoki teased, leaning casually against a mast as the ship pitched again. "Oh, shut it, twig-boy!" replied Rekka.

Their voices rolled with the wind, full of adrenaline and amusement as another monstrous wave slammed the hull. Yakeru steadied themselves, eyeing the stormy horizon with quiet awe. Meanwhile, Eleonor was already hanging onto a rope with one arm. "This is so much fun!" she shouted.

And through all the noise, Tora sat near the ship's edge. Her hood drawn low, cloak fluttering gently in the sharp wind. She stared at the horizon, at the endless stretch of storm-torn sky, and let nostalgia settle softly in her chest.

It had been a long time since she crossed into these waters. Behind her, the Red Cinders continued their chaotic harmony. Then, Rekka elbowed Naoki. "Hey, hey, hey, seriously though, who is that woman you brought on board?" she asked.

Her eyes flicked toward Tora in suspicion. "She's just sitting there like some dramatic fortune-teller. What kinda person did you pick up, Hinote?" wondered Rekka before Hinote chuckled under his breath, arms folded as he watched the waves.

"Don't know much about her," he admitted lightly. "But she did help us on our ship coated so we could enter the New World. That's good enough for me," he said before Homura hummed thoughtfully beside him.

"No... it's more than that," said the pyro mink as her eyes sharpened as they drifted toward Tora's silhouette. "That woman has a powerful animal instinct. It's almost suffocating. Like a seasoned predator," she said.

Hearing this, Hinote's grin widened. "You realised it too, huh?" he asked, making Homura nod. "She's not normal," she suggested before Hinote glanced back toward Tora, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"I had a similar feeling when I fought Y/n," he said quietly. "And the last time, too, on that island," added Hinote. But before Homura could respond, another voice cut in. "Oh, oh! Maybe she's like me, no?!" Eleonor's voice exploded across the deck as she bounded over, practically vibrating with excitement.

"I got that same familiar feeling I had with that snake guy! So she has to be, like, a special zoan too, right?!" she asked before Yakeru tilted their head. "Is that... possible?" wondered Yakeru before Tora chuckled softly, still facing the horizon. "You all know I can hear you, right?" she asked.

At the sound of her voice, the entire crew froze for half a second. Then Hinote laughed and strode over. "If that's the case, why don't you join us?" he invited warmly. "Drinks are flowing. Storm's booming. Best time to talk," he said before Tora shrugged lightly. "If you insist," she said.